§ MR. STEADMAN (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether arrangements are about to be entered into with Messrs. Sales and Sons, of Woolwich, to sub-contract for the loading and unloading of all barges and other craft at the Naval Store, West India Docks.
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.I regret that I am unable to make any: statement on this subject at the present time.
§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he Is aware that large quantities of useless rubbish is being conveyed by barges from Deptford Naval Store to the West India Docks Naval Store by a firm of Woolwich barge owners, at a cost of several thousands of pounds; whether he is aware that the barge "Greek," and others, of 50 tons register, are being 504 charged to the Admiralty as having carried from 180 to 210 tons in a single freight; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the manner in which the work of the removal of the stores from Deptford is being conducted.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. The answer to the second paragraph is: Steps were taken to verify the weights and measurements Of the quantities barged across. The "Greek" is 59 tons register, but she is quite capable of carrying more than the amounts mentioned in the Question, under favourable conditions. No investigation is necessary.