§ CAPTAIN DONELANOn behalf of the Member for North-East Cork, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can state the number of casks of pork supplied to Deptford Stores in connection with the last contract for pork; how many of these were supplied by Cork contractors, and how many by Danish or other foreign contractors; and whether he can state the difference in price (if any) between the Irish and foreign contracts?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHUnder the 1892 contract for pork the number of casks supplied to the Deptford Victualling Yard was 4,288; 2,135 were supplied by Cork contractors and 2,155 by Danish. The casks contain 300 lbs., 2001bs., and l00lbs. respectively. The prices are: — 3001bs. cask from Cork, £8 7s.; Danish, £7 10s.:—2001bs. cask from Cork, £5 12s. 7d.; Danish, £5:— l00lbs. cask from Cork, £2 17s. 10d.; Danish, £2 13s. It is thus seen that the Irish pork in all cases is dearer than the Danish.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman considers 361 it advisable that the Admiralty should continue to give so large a share of this contract to a foreign country when the supply can be obtained at home at no very great addition to the price, and, considering the quality, much cheaper?
§ [Mr. SPEAKER ruled the question out of Order.]