§ 24. Mr. COWANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has ascertained from the Government of South Africa the precise position held in connection with the Pretoria Fire Brigades by an officer who is described in command orders as late Chief of Civil and Military Fire Brigades, Pretoria; whether he has verified the length and dates of that service; if he has ascertained the conditions under which his employment terminated; if he will not state in detail, after due varification, any fire brigade or similar professional experience this officer has had 831 in Great Britain or elsewhere since the military occupation of Pretoria; and whether he is still engaged in the Quartermaster-General's Department at the War Office?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe War Office has documents which show that Mr. (now Captain) Moutray Read was appointed Superintendent of the Military (and Civil) Fire Brigades at Pretoria at the time of the occupation in June, 1900, and that he resigned office on the 18th May, 1902. He then came to England for three months' training with the Glasgow Fire Brigade as a volunteer, and in December, 1902, raised and commanded as chief the Volunteer Fire Brigade in Pretoria, until April, 1902. It is officially recorded that Captain Read carried out his work in Pretoria in a most satisfactory manner. He is now doing valuable work in the office he holds.