§ MR. MASON (Lanark, Mid)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether it is the case that Her Majesty's guardship lying at Queensferry (within a few miles of the Salamanan Coalfields) is supplied with coal from Wales, costing a very much higher price; whether it is the case that the Admiralty tried coal from Scotland in 1876, and reported that it was found nearly equal to the best Welsh coal; and, whether he will take steps to put a stop to this apparent waste of public money?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)It is the case that the guardship in question 726 has been supplied with Welsh coal, which cost 13s. per ton alongside. The Scotch coal would cost less, but how much less cannot be stated, as no actual purchase of a large quantity has been made. The Admiralty tried coal from Scotland, as stated in the Question; but it was not found nearly equal to the best Welsh coal. The Welsh coal has the great advantage of being smokeless, and not choking the flues, neither of which qualities pertain to the Scotch coal.
§ MR. MASONasked, if the 13s. per ton included the carriage of the coal round from Wales to the Forth?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONsaid, it included the carriage.