Deputation from Nottingham Town Council
to the Secretary of State for War
The Council Meeting held in early December (see our report on an earlier page) had decided that a high level deputation should go to see the Secretary of State for War in London to try and persuade the authorities at the War Office to provide some help to the Robin Hoods to enable them to acquire their new range.
The deputation went to London and a report of the proceedings appeared in the Nottingham Evening Post of 4th January 1894.
Of course they did not get an immediate answer at the end of the lengthy meeting; but one was evidently expected in a few days. It seems, however, that it did not come or was not further debated until March as can be surmised by the further report below.
Nottingham Evening Post, 4th Jan 1894
DEPUTATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR
In accordance with a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Nottingham Town Council a deputation, consisting of the Mayor of the borough (Ald. F. Pullman), the Sheriff (Mr. A. Pyatt), and the Town Clerk (Sir S.G. Johnson), has had an interview in London with the Secretary of State for War (the Right Hon. Hy. Campbell-Bannerman) in reference to the provision of a new range for the Robin Hoods. It will be remembered that at the December assembly of the Council the petition originally presented by the officers and non-commissioned officers of the battalion in regard to the necessities which exist in the matter, arose for consideration upon a proposal, which was made by the Mayor, for the appointment of a special committee to consider the subject. There were differences of opinion, which were emphasised in the course of the debate, as to the best way of meeting the difficulty with a view to arriving at a satisfactory conclusion. An amendment to the first proposal was adopted in favour of approaching the Government authorities to press upon them the desirableness of making the needful provision.
By appointment the Mayor, Sheriff, and Town Clerk saw the Secretary of State for War at the War Office on Thursday afternoon. The three members for the borough had been invited to join the deputation. Colonel Seely was unable to attend in the consequence of the state of Mrs. Seely's health, and necessarily, as a member of the Cabinet, Mr. Arnold Morley could not be included in a deputation to one of his own Ministerial colleagues. The Mayor, Sheriff, and Town Clerk were introduced to Mr. Campbell-Bannerman by Mr. Henry Smith Wright, M.P. for the Southern Division. The Secretary of State for War was accompanied by the Financial Secretary to the Department, Mr. William Woodall, M.P., Lieutenant- General Sir Henry Evelyn Wood, G.C.B., V.C., and Major- General Sir Francis Wallace Grenfell, G.C., M.G., Deputy-Adjutant-General. The interview was of considerable duration, many interesting points being discussed in reference both to the local question and its bearing upon the general subject of providing ranges for volunteer battalions. The official reply to the request in the Nottingham case will be communicated by the Mayor to the meeting of the Town Council to be held on Monday morning.
Evidently the letter from the War Office containing their decision regarding the request for assistance in obtaining a new range for the Robin Hoods did not come through, much to the annoyance of Colonel Hubbersty, the commanding officer of the Robin Hoods, who wrote to the Mayor to complain.
His letter was read out at the Council Meeting and Alderman Sir John Turney responded by saying that he would put a proposal to the next meeting to move the matter forward.
Nottingham Evening Post 5 March 1894
The Robin Hood Rifle Range Question.
The Town Clerk read the following letter from Col. A.C. Cantrell Hubbersty, commanding the Robin Hoods:–
Feller Abbey, Notts, 2nd. March, 1894.
Dear Mr Mayor,
Proposed New Rifle Range for the Robin Hood Rifles at Trent.
Pardon my calling your attention to the fact that the Corporation has given no answer to the memorial presented by the battalion I have the honour of commanding. The delay in obtaining a full consideration of this question by the Council is most prejudicially affecting the interests of the regiment, and we shall this year again be unable to complete our registering, and unless a range be obtained speedily, we shall be in the same position in the year following. I find after careful consideration that the Regiment is able to offer £250 a year to the Corporation towards the payment of the annual instalment of interest and capital, which the Corporation would have to pay. I therefore have much pleasure in offering that sum on behalf of the regiment.
I have the honour to be, dear Mr. Mayor, very truly yours,
A.C. Cantrell Hubbersty.
P.S. – I shall be greatly obliged if you will kindly bring the matter before the Council at their next meeting. A.C.C.H.
Ald. Sir John Turney gave notice that he should move that a committee be appointed at the next meeting of the Council, to take into consideration the subject of that letter.
Transcripts from Nottingham Evening Post 04/01/1894 and 05/03/1894
British Library Newspaper Archive