§ MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN (KilKenny)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Royal Artillery Canteen at Dover 377 has commenced the manufacture of mineral waters, and is endeavouring to trade for the supply of other regiments; whether it is with the sanction of the Government that the military have gone into competition with manufacturers and labourers engaged in this branch of trade; whether the Government will insist that regular trade wages are paid by these military manufacturers to their employÉs, as is required of all other caterers for Government contracts; and whether the Government intend to allow these military manufacturers to contract for the supply of the Army in Ireland, to the injury of the mineral water trade, which is one of the few prosperous Irish industries?
§ * MR. BRODRICKThe Regulations do not forbid the canteen of one battalion to sell to that of another, but inquiry will be made whether this privilege has been abused in this case. There is no intention of allowing the supply of other units to be extended in the manner suggested in the question.