§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Surveyor General of Ordnance, Whether he has yet received the chemist's Report on the adulterated leather, and if, in accordance with his promise, he will communicate such Report to the House; whether the specification provides that the leather should be oak-bark tanned; and, whether the hides of collar leather passed were tanned with chemicals and adulterated to add weight?
§ THE SURVEYOR GENERAL (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)The chemist to the War Department has reported that glucosides are employed in the tanning of leather, and that traces of glucose would be found after the process; but that a larger amount has been found in the hides he has examined than would, in his opinion, be accounted for by chemical reaction. The contractors' tanners contest the professional accuracy of this opinion. It appears to me, therefore, that further investigation is required, and I have given directions that an independent Report shall be prepared for the War Department from a competent outside source. The specification does not require that the leather should be oak-bark tanned.
§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)inquired what were the names of the Members of the Commission of Inquiry?
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked, whether it was true that some of the leather was wet with glucose?
§ MR. NORTHCOTEsaid he would ascertain.