§ MR. WARNERI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he could explain how the purchase of metals by tender has worked better than the old system of buying through a broker; and whether the Government have been obliged to give higher prices in consequence of the new system without 584 gaining any advantage in quality or otherwise.
* MR. J. POWELL WILLIAMSThe answer to the second paragraph of the question is in the negative. The contrary is the fact. This statement disposes of the first paragraph of the question.