§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S. W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of 1787 State for the Home Department whether one of the grounds of difference between Mr. Monro and the Home Office related to the contract for the clothing of the police; whether this contract was entered into by the Home Office against the recommendations of the Receiver; whether throughout the greater part of 1889 the complaints of the responsible officers as to the clothing supplied were frequent; and whether in October, 1889, Mr. Monro disclaimed responsibility for the maintenance of a contract which he considered "injurious to the interests and efficiency of the Force?"
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe facts relating to the clothing contract are as follows. In September, 1888, a contract for clothing was entered into with a new firm of contractors (Hammond and Co.), who made the lowest tender. This was done with the concurrence of the then Commissioner, who pointed out that the new contract would effect a considerable saving; but the Receiver recommended that the clothing of half the Force should be given to the new contractors, and of the other half to the old contractors (Compton and Co.), whose tender was higher. The Commissioner complained more than once, and with good ground, of the clothing supplied, and generally of the manner in which the contract was performed. The Receiver endeavoured, by the enforcement of penalties and otherwise, to obtain a better performance of the contract. The terms of this contract were, in reality, too unfavourable to the contractors. The Commissioner renewed his complaints in October, 1889, to the effect stated in the question. After consultation with the Receiver, I decided not to terminate the contract then. At a later period, in May, 1890, on fresh complaint by the Commissioner, and after consultation with both Receiver and Commissioner, I came to the conclusion that it would be for the interest and convenience of the Force that the current issue of clothing should be completed by the contractors, as any new contractor has at first much to learn and many difficulties in executing the work; but that as soon as that was completed the contractors should be relieved of their contract, and that course was followed with the assent of the Commissioner.