§ MR. BERNARD COLERIDGE (Sheffield, Attercliffe)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a large contract has been entered into by the Admiralty with a Sheffield firm for the supply of files; whether the same were contracted for as hand-cut and paid for as hand-cut, and whether the same have been discovered to be machine-cut; how many have been delivered and many returned; and what step have the Government taken, or intend to take, in the matter?
*SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHA contract for 10,765' dozen files was entered into last March with a Sheffield firm in which it was stipulated that they should be hand-cut. In contravention of this condition a considerable number were supplied machine-cut. Since the discovery of this fact the stock at each dockyard has been examined by experts, and in the result 2,950½ dozens were found to be machine-cut. The contractors admitted their liability and expressed regret for 890 the occurrence. They have been called upon to replace these files by hand-cut articles, and have been charged With the expenses of the examination. In addition, the displeasure of the Board of Admiralty has been expressed to them.