§ MR. H. H. FOWLERasked the Under Secretary of State for India, If his attention has been called to statements that large contracts for ironwork for Indian Railways have been entered 1100 into by the India Office with Foreign firms; and, whether he can inform the House as to the amount of these contracts, the reasons why they have been entered into, and the proportion they bear to contracts for Railway ironwork placed in this Country with home manufacturers?
§ MR. ANDERSONasked the Under Secretary of State for India, If, with reference to the statement that no work except two contracts for axle-boxes, value about £5,600, had been given to Foreign makers, he had been made aware that in 1888 there had been at least one contract for 249,000 wrought-steel transverse sleepers, value about £70,000; if he is aware that last May another contract was given for 100,000 more of these steel sleepers, value about £22,000; whether, in estimating comparative costs of Home and Foreign manufacture, allowance is made for difference in quality, extra cost of inspectors and engineers visiting works, &c.; and, if, on the completion of either of these contracts, he will lay upon the Table a Paper showing the accurate cost as compared with what it would have been if the lowest offer of a British manufacturer had been accepted?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSMy attention has been drawn to this subject, and I am glad of an opportunity of stating the facts. Since I stated to the House that orders for axle-boxes had been placed abroad, 100,000 steel sleepers have been contracted for at £7 12s. per ton, the lowest British tender being £8 12s. 6d. This contract was made on the 26th of May last. The India Office made no foreign contract for steel sleepers in 1883, and the contract for 249,000 referred to by the hon. Member for Glasgow (Mr. Anderson) is imaginary. The only foreign purchase in that year was 37 tons of Swedish iron. I learn, however, that the Directors of the Southern Mahratta Company bought 99,600 steel sleepers from a foreign firm. The contracts for railway work entered into by the India Office since June, 1877, amount to £6,591,385, of which £53,833 has been placed with foreign firms; and in these contracts duo consideration has been given to the extra cost incurred by our Inspectors in visiting foreign works. The quality of the work is equal to English work, and the specifications are the same. I shall be quite willing, on the 1101 completion of the contract for sleepers, to lay upon the Table a Paper showing the saving to the Government of India on this contract as compared with the lowest English tender. I may say that the traditions of the India Office are strongly against placing contracts abroad; still, on some occasions, even the India Office must depart from tradition. I may also inform the House that steel sleepers are somewhat novel in England, and that several of our greatest English manufacturers have declined to make them or tender for them. At present German prices are considerably below English. As, however, these sleepers may, in the future, be very generally used by the Indian Government and by the Indian Railway Companies, I hope that our great English firms will not allow foreigners to distance them in fair and open competition.
§ MR. ANDERSONasked whether it was not the fact that the contract in 1883, which the hon. Gentleman said was purely imaginary, was advertised for by the India Office, and, if not given out by them, that a considerable portion of it was given out by their engineer, Mr. Rendel, on behalf of the South Mahratta Railway?
§ MR. J. K. CROSSsaid, the contract of 249,000 steel sleepers was certainly advertised for; but they were changed from steel to cast iron, and the contract was executed by an English firm.