HC Deb 19 July 1889 vol 338 cc843-5
MR. HANBURY (Preston)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he can now state the date at which Major Mayne's valise equipment was submitted to the Equipment Committee, and the date at which Colonel Slade, who has since patented a similar equipment, ceased to be a member of the Committee appointed to decide judicially upon such inventions; whether he can now confirm his statement that Colonel Slade ceased to be a member of the Equipment Committee long before the valises in question were submitted to it; whether it is usual to allow members of such Committees to themselves patent inventions similar to those which they have had special opportunities of examining as members of such Committees; whether it is usual to give contracts under such circumstances to members of such Committees on their retirement, and while they are still actually members of other influential War Office Committees, the War Office regulations forbidding officials even to become shareholders in contracting firms; whether it is usual to give contracts to Colonels who have no factories and, as the Director of Contracts states was the case in this instance, without even being prepared to furnish "the particulars usually given to the trade in the shape of patterns and specifications;" whether, on its being discovered, after the first set of the equipment had been delivered, that it bore the name of Ross as maker, Colonel Slade gave the War Office a promise that no more should be made by that firm; whether Messrs. Ross have admitted in evidence that, in spite of this promise, the whole of the remaining 999 sets, and the valises besides, were made by them for Colonel Slade; what names were on these articles so manufactured; what notice was taken of this conduct of Colonel Slade, or whether he is still a member of an important War Office Committee and these goods have been accepted by the War Office; whether two large additional contracts have since been given to his admitted partner in this patent, Colonel Wallace, and at a price -considerably higher, by about 25 per cent, than that given on this first and smaller order, 25s. 6d. as against 20s. 8½d., the price being, as the Director of Contracts has stated in evidence, "more than I have ever paid for any set of equipment;" would he state what was his authority for saying that Colonels Slade and Wallace were "not in partnership;" and whether the pouches of this equipment with which the British Army is now about to be supplied will be unfit for the new and much smaller cartridge of the new magazine rifle.

* MR. BRODRICK

At least half of the long series of questions put by my hon. Friend contain debateable matter, and without intending any discourtesy to him, I must reserve my answer until that debate arises. As regards the questions of facts, Major Mayne's valise equipment came before the Equipment Committee in May, 1883, and Colonel Slade ceased to be a Member of the Committee in November, 1886, having been appointed to it in November, 1884. Colonel Slade did promise that Messrs. Ross should not be employed, but nevertheless it was found that that firm had made the remainder of the thousand sets, though the name on the articles was that of "Slade" only. The goods were accepted as they were immediately required. Colonel Slade is still a Member of the Small Arms Committee, and the circumstances above-mentioned do not preclude the Secretary of State from availing himself of his experience in that capacity. The question of subsequent contracts for the Slade equipment has been fully discussed, and I have nothing to add to what has already been said. When the ammunition issued to the Army is changed the pouches will be changed also. In the meantime the troops must be kept provided with pouches for the existing ammunition.

MR. HANBURY

Am I to understand that Colonel Slade did send in certain sets which were made by Messrs. Ross, although a faithful promise had been given that no more should be sent in?

* MR. BRODRICK

The equipments were required, and they were sent in with the name of Colonel Slade only upon them. They were found by the Inspector to be fully up to the stipulations of the contract, and they were required for the use of the troops at once. Every care is taken that Messrs. Ross shall not be further employed.

MR. HANBURY

I am not talking of Messrs. Ross, but of a gross breach of faith by a War Office official.

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. HANBURY

Perhaps I may be allowed to say that a promise faithfully given to the War Office was deliberately broken.

* MR. SPEAKER

The hon. Gentleman is making an assumption in putting a question which he has no right to make.

MR. HANBURY

The fact of the promise is stated in a memorandum issued by the Director of Contracts which I am ready to read, if necessary. There can be no doubt about the facts, which are admitted.

* MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!