HC Deb 29 June 1899 vol 73 cc972-4
MR. FLYNN (Cork, N.)

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office, is he aware that the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society, Limited, is under the management of a number of officers on the active list, and that the Society enters into competition with the regular traders seeking business amongst the canteens in Great Britain and Ireland; and is it in accordance with the Queen's Regulations that these officers should hold the positions which they do in this society; and, if not, will they be called upon to retire from the society.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. J. POWELLWILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.

The Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society is a provident society formed for the purpose of obtaining and distributing the supplies sold to the troops in the regimental canteens. It has been decided that it is not a "company" within the terms of the Queen's Regulations to which the hon. Member refers, and it is not held that officers on the full-pay list are prohibited from serving on the Committee.

MR. FLYNN

Is it the fact that this provident society pays a dividend of 4 or 5 per cent.? Is it fair, under these circumstances, that it should compete with ordinary tradesmen of the country?

MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

The dividend is limited to 5 per cent., and the society is not carried on, therefore, for profit. Those who found the capital for it cannot receive more than 5 per cent., and anything earned beyond that goes to the benefit of others.

MR. FLYNN

I shall call attention to the position held by these officers.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

Are not the headquarters of this society located in London?

MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

Yes.

CAPTAIN DONELAN

Has it any business establishment in Ireland?

MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

I do not think it has any separate establishment in Ireland. Its agencies are to be found throughout the kingdom.

Mr. FLYNN

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state how many Officers of the Army Service Corps, interested directly, or as shareholders indirectly, in the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society (Limited), are employed as inspectors of rations, and in this capacity have the passing or the rejection of supplies from this Society in which they are so interested.

* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

Only two officers of the Army Service Corps are employed in the inspection of canteen supplies, and neither of them has any interest, either direct or indirect, in the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society.

MR. FLYNN

Did not one of these two gentlemen go to Cork to inspect the tenders for the last contract?

* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension; I suppose he refers to an officer named King. It is not the same man.

MR. J. F. X. O'BRIEN (Cork)

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office in reference to the contract for the supply of all groceries, provisions, and household sundries to the Cork Military District recently given to the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society, whether one at least of the officers on the board which decided the contract was formerly a member of the committee of management of the society; whether the board was advised in regard to the contract by an officer who came specially from London to advocate the claim of the Canteen and Mess Society; and has this officer any pecuniary interest in taking this action.

* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

Of the seven officers who composed the board which adjudicated upon the tenders for canteen supplies in the Cork district one had, in 1896, served, as representative of Aldershot, on the Committee of Management of the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society, but he never had any pecuniary interest in the society. Captain King, who as inspector of canteen supplies attends, when available, all boards on district contracts for the supply of canteens, attended the board on the occasion referred to, but he has no interest, either direct or indirect, in the Canteen and Mess Co-operative. Society, and is in no way connected with its management.

MR. FLYNN

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this Co-operative Society were given the contract in the Cork district at prices in excess of those quoted by a local firm, a list of which I can supply privately?

* MR. J. POWELL-WILLIAMS

I should be glad to see the list to which the hon. Member refers, as my information absolutely contradicts that statement.