§ DR. TANNERI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Ballincollig Gunpowder Company have recently tendered for the supply of barrels; and, if so, for how many, with what conditions, and with what result; whether, in connection with the recent contract for gunpowder with the Ballincollig Powder Company, County Cork, it is a fact the contract was for 500 barrels; that the Government supplied 200 of these barrels, and asked the Company to supply the remaining 300; and whether these 300 will be supplied by the Government, or left to be rendered by local labour?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe contract with the Ballincollig Powder Company was for 500 gunpowder barrels, of which 200 had been previously ordered. The Company preferred to use the Government barrels for packing the gunpowder, and they have been invited by the Government to send barrels on future occasions of their own manufacture.
§ DR. TANNERAm I to understand that the Government have left an option to the Company to supply these 300 barrels?
§ MR. BRODRICKCertainly.