§ SIR JOHN HAYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether a penalty of £635 for non-fulfilment of a Contract for Navy duck was inflicted on the firm of Messrs. Baxter of Dundee by the Board of Admiralty in November 1868; and, whether it is true as reported, that the fine has been remitted or repaid, and at what date such remission occurred?
§ MR. GOSCHENSir, the hon. and gallant Member asks me whether the fine was inflicted in 1868. It was not; but there was a fine of £630 inflicted in November, 1867, four years and a half ago. The hon. Baronet then proceeds to ask—"Whether it is true as reported, that the fine has been remitted or repaid." I am bound to say that I have never heard of such a report, or seen such a report, nor have I been able to find any person who has. But if the hon. and gallant Baronet wishes the matter to be more thoroughly investigated, I would ask him to furnish me with that report which he has seen, or with the names of the persons who have authenticated it, because, unless formally authenticated, I am sure the hon. Baronet would not have put this Question on the Paper. The statement is exceedingly vague; but I have done my best to follow it up. I am positively told that no orders have been received in the Accountant General's Department as to the remission of the fine.