COLONEL STANLEY (for Mr. W. H. SMITH)asked the Secretary of State for War, If it is the fact that an experimental pipe-water service was laid down at Aldershot last year and tested, in order to ascertain the feasibility of supplying water by pumps from Suakin on the road to Berber; that the pipes and pumps were supplied by English makers, and that the experiment was entirely satisfactory; but that no opportunity was afforded to these manufacturers to tender for or to supply the pumps which are required for the water supply from Suakin, and that without calling for any tenders in England the pumps have been ordered from New York?
§ MR. BRAND(who replied) said: Experiments on a small scale were made at Aldershot with apparatus made by English makers, but supplied by Mr. Tweddle, an American gentleman, who has had great and recent experience on petroleum lines. The trial proved successful, and resulted in Mr. Tweddle being intrusted with the supply of pipes and pumps for the first 50 miles. The pipes have been obtained in England; but Mr. Tweddle preferred to operate with pumps from New York, which had the additional advantage of being ready to hand. It has already been stated that it is not contemplated by the War Office to use American apparatus for 290 other sections. As this question has attracted considerable attention, I may, perhaps, be allowed to add that at the time engines of a similar class were working on this identical system in America, and I thought it desirable to purchase one of these engines in order to secure a pattern.
MR. J. LOWTHERasked whether it was the case that no pumps or engines of that character were to be obtained in England?
§ MR. BRANDsaid, the Government were aware these pumps existed in New York, and had been used by New York gentlemen, and Mr. Tweddle certified that they would answer the purpose for which they were required. Under the circumstances, the Government considered it the best plan to purchase engines that had been used in New York.
MR. J. LOWTHERsaid, the hon. Gentleman had not answered the Question. It was not whether the engines were known to exist in America; but whether the Department thought they could not be got in England?
§ MR. BRANDsaid, that although considerable interest attached to the experiments at Aldershot, which were described in the public Press at the time, the Government were never informed by any English manufacturers that they had the particular pumps wanted in their possession. It was the intention of the War Office, having got the pattern, to employ English manufacturers in future.