§ 14. Lord ROBERT CECILasked whether on or about the 19th of August last the War Office issued a letter stating that they were giving instructions to the Commanders-in-Chief in the districts that they have no authority to encourage shooting by Territorials which is not part of the compulsory practice and necessary for efficiency, and that for this purpose a man was not required to visit the range on more than two or three occasions in the year; and whether it is possible for a man to become a useful shot by visiting a range not more than two or three times in the year?
§ Colonel SEELYI am afraid that the Noble Lord has been misinformed. The instructions in question referred solely to shooting on Sundays.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWill the right hon. Gentleman refer to the instructions as published in the papers, and, if he finds that they are of a perfectly general character, will he see that the matter is corrected?
§ Colonel SEELYSurely nobody could conceive that the instructions referred to-in the question had any such meaning as that suggested. I should have thought it was clear that they could not refer to anything except shooting on Sundays.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILMay I take it that there have been no instructions issued forbidding officers to encourage shooting at the ranges except on the occasions referred to?
§ Colonel SEELYOf course. If I may say so, it is a fantastic suggestion.