MR. C. J. ENGLEDEW (Kildare, N.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will devise some scheme by which preference will be given to contractors tendering for Army contracts who undertake to provide homegrown supplies for the use of the Army in Ireland, both line and cavalry; and whether he will have special steps taken to encourage local contractors who undertake to supply home-grown beef, mutton, hay, oats, straw, etc., and give them special privileges, in order to encourage as far as possible the use of home-grown and home-made articles in his Department?
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.Preference is already given, at equal quality and price to home-produced meat and forage in Ireland; and at the Curragh only home-fed meat is supplied. Everything that is possible is done to encourage local purchases of meat and forage.
§ MR. J. C. FLYNN (Cork, N.)Have not many complaints been made by soldiers with regard to the innutritious quality of the foreign meat? Is it not of very inferior quality?
MR. POWELL-WILLIAMSNo complaints whatever have been received; indeed, I believe that the rations served out to the soldiers are pretty well approved of.