§ * MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether it is in contemplation to withdraw the contract for Irish telegraph messengers' boots from Irish manufacturers; and, if so, seeing that this work is for an Irish Department, whether he will use his efforts to secure that the contracts be kept in that country.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINThe Irish tenders for the supply of telegraph messengers' boots in Ireland were this year as much as 1.5 per cent. higher than the English tenders after allowing for the cost of carriage, and consequently the Postmaster General has felt it necessary to consider the question of placing the contract elsewhere for this year.
§ * MR. NANNETTIIs it not a fact that tenders for supplying these boots have 48 recently been asked for, and was not the manufacturer whose tender was the lowest a Dublin firm, and will the hon. Gentleman see that the lowest Irish tender be accepted?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINCertainly not.
§ * MR. NANNETTIBut tenders were asked for only from Ireland, and is it not usual to accept the lowest?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINNo, Sir; tenders were asked for from Irish manufacturers, but it was found that they were so much higher than the English tenders that they could not possibly be accepted.
§ * MR. NANNETTIOne further Question——
§ * MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! The hon. Member cannot discuss the matter now. The Question on the Paper has been fully answered.
§ * MR. NANNETTII only want to ask——
§ * MR. SPEAKERI have told the hon. Member he is not in order.