§ MR. W. FIELDI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the proposed tenders for meat supplies to the troops stationed in Dublin for the six mouths commencing 1st June, 1895, are to be for refrigerated beef and frozen mutton; whether he is aware that such conditions amount to a preference for foreign meat to the exclusion of native produce; whether there are any sufficient grounds for departing from the existing practice; and whether, if the facts be as stated, he would revert to the existing system?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe tenders for meat for the Dublin Garrison, like those for other stations, will be for both fresh and refrigerated meat. The conditions prescribed do not amount to a preference for foreign meat, but they admit it into restricted competition with home supplies. This is not a departure from the general system, but an application of the general system to the Dublin Garrison. Several military abattoirs were established many years ago, chiefly to secure the efficiency of butchers for field service, and for the instruction of officers in connection with meat supplies. These purposes have been attained, and a sufficient supply of military butchers can be kept efficient with a smaller number of abattoirs, while the instruction of officers in judging meat is specially provided for. Abattoirs are expensive, and the contract system has recently been reverted to at Portsmouth with satisfactory results. The same course is proposed for Dublin, where the decision has been hastened by the fact that if the abattoir had been retained a large expenditure would have been necessary for its reconstruction.
§ MR. W. FIELDasked whether it was not the fact that the existing system had given, satisfaction to the military authorities of Dublin?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not think there has been any positive dissatisfaction with the present system; but it is believed that the other system of doing away with abattoirs and throwing ourselves on the public trade is better, and has been found to be better, for the service in other places.
§ *MR. T. GIBSON BOWLES (Lynn Regis)asked what proportion refrigerated and frozen meat bore to fresh meat in the supplies?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANAbout 60 per cent., or half and half. I cannot state exactly what it is; but there is a certain fixed percentage which cannot be exceeded.
§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Government will expend what they save on this foreign meat in giving the soldiers that extra allowance of meat for which we have fought so long?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThe question of the allowance of meat 347 was very elaborately inquired into three or four years ago, and I think we had better leave it where it stands.