HC Deb 08 March 1887 vol 311 cc1582-3
MR. HANBURY (Preston)

asked the Surveyor General of the Ordnance, Whether the 250,000 cartridges which Messieurs Latimer Clark, Muirhead, and Company contracted to deliver, in equal instalments, on the 25th February and the 4th March, were so delivered on such days, or on what subsequent days; whether they were all, or what portion of thorn, manufactured at the Millwall Works of Messieurs Latimer Clark, Muir head and Company, or wore supplied to them from elsewhere; and, if so, by whom were they made; and, whether, at the time of the making the contract, the Director of Contracts was aware that the firm to whom he gave the contract were not manufacturers of cartridges, and had not the machinery for such manufacture?

MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

asked, Whether the hon. Gentleman would, at the same time, say whether he was aware that it was the case that Messrs. Kynoch of Birmingham had executed contracts wholly or in part for the British Government; whether the work had been completed in the time specified in the contract; and what proportion, if any, had been rejected for bad work?

THE SURVEYOR GENERAL (Mr. NORTHCOTE) (Exeter)

With regard to the Question which has just been put to me, I must ask the hon. Member for Shoreditch to put it down on the Paper. A delay, which the Superintendent of the Royal Laboratory states to have been altogether unavoidable, has occurred in supplying the contractors with the necessary gauges from Woolwich. The result is that no deliveries have yet been made. Notwithstanding this, I am assured that the first delivery will be made this week, and that the whole quantity will be completed by the time originally fixed. The premises have been inspected by an official of the Royal Laboratory at Woolwich. The Superintendent reports that the cartridges are being actually produced at Millwall. They will be filled by Dyer and Robson, of Greenwich. I have already explained to my hon. Friend that this firm has not before manufactured cartridges for the War Department, and that this order is a trial one. I shall be happy, if he wishes it, to show him the Papers on the subject, which will, I think, satisfy him that the War Office had received full assurance that the firm were in a position to take the order.

MR. DE LISLE (Leicestershire, Mid)

Were the caps also manufactured by this firm?

MR. NORTHCOTE

I will ascertain for my hon. Friend.