§ MR. HANBURY (Preston)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether, as higher prices were paid to Messrs. Wilkinson, with the intention that the bayonets made under their contract should be manufactured in this country, the contract contained any penalty or other provision to secure that result, and to prevent the wholesale importation from Germany of bayonets in a state of complete or almost complete manufacture?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (MR. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)There is no such penalty in the contract; nor have I any ground for supposing that the undertaking to make the sword bayonets in London from Firth steel has been violated. Assuming for the moment that it has been, then it would be in my power to set aside the contract, and not to pay for the articles.
§ MR. HANBURYasked, whether it was not the case that he had undertaken to produce the workman who had seen these bayonets arrive from Germany and had them unpacked before his eyes?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, his hon. Friend would be surprised if he heard the explanation of that matter.