MR. P.M'DONALD (Sligo, N.)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If his attention has been drawn to the Return, No. 228, dated 24th June 1885, by which it appears that large contracts for salt pork and preserved butter, both staple articles of Irish production, have been entered into with foreigners during the past seven years; and, if the Lords of the Admiralty will in future invite tenders from Irish merchants for these supplies to the Navy, and, quality and price considered, will give a preference to the home producers?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. FORWOOD) (Lancashire, Ormskirk)In reply to the first portion of the Question of the hon. Member for Sligo, contracts for salt pork have only been entered into with foreigners in cases where, after advertisement, the tenders received from foreign firms have shown a material advantage to the Public Service when compared with those sent in by houses established in the United Kingdom. As regards the second part of the Question, the Admiralty intend to continue, when requiring supplies of pork, their system of advertising in Irish papers; and, as promised by the First Lord of the Admiralty, in reply to a Question put to him on Tuesday, will give to tenders that are at all equal a preference to the home producer. Butter is only purchased for use on board the troopships, and then only after a careful examination of the samples and prices, which are obtained from firms in Ireland as well as elsewhere.