HC Deb 24 March 1893 vol 10 cc1032-3
MR. W. REDMOND (Clare, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether any order has been given to the Killaloe Slate Company, as it was stated at their annual meeting that the Company was prepared to supply the Government with equally good material and at the same rates as other tenders for public works in Ireland?

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT,) Oldham

The Board of Works very seldom issue orders for building material to the manufacturers, but Killaloe slates have been entered in their new Triennial Building Contract, and have been specified for the new Phoenix Park Police Barrack shortly to be put up to tender, and some time ago they issued instructions to the Architectural Department to use these slates as far as possible, provided they were supplied of selected quality and a full ¼ inch thick.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a notorious fact that these Irish slates are inferior in quality, and are not specified in building contracts; and, further, should the comfort and health of our soldiers in Her Majesty's barracks be sacrificed to the interests of the Killaloe Slate Company?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

I do not admit that these slates are inferior. They have to be submitted to an inspection, and the Architect of the Department will only accept such as are of proper quality and a quarter of an inch thick.

MR. BARTLEY

Is it not known that the building trade generally will not use them?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

I cannot say what the opinion of the building trade is.

MR. SEXTON

Has not the Engineer of the Board of Works reported that these slates are as good as any others? Is it not a fact that Dublin Castle is roofed with them?

MR. W. REDMOND

And is it not a fact that comparisons which have been made have proved that these slates are quite as good, if not better, than others?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

The quality varies. The English and Welsh slates are of a different quality to them. Some of the Killaloe slates are very good, and game are not. The Department have decided to use only such slates as are of the specified quality and a quarter of an inch thick.

MR. W. REDMOND

I give notice that I shall call attention to the fact that these slates from County Clare are better than Welsh or any other slates.

MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)

Will care be taken to see that slates of the proper quality only are used?

SIR J. T. HIBBERT

The contract provides for that.