§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEY () Derbyshire, ChesterfieldI beg to ask the postmaster General, as representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether Messrs. Shelford and Son, stated in the Colonial Office List to be the Consulting Engineers for Railways employed by the Crown Agents for the Colonies, are also contractors for the construction of West African railways; and will he state what complaints have been received from the Governor of Lagos or other Colonial officials as to the 1336 cost and character of the work and supplies required for railway undertakings now in progress in West Africa.
§ THE POSTMASTER GENERAL (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,, for Mr. J. Chamberlain) Worcestershire, E.The West African railways are being constructed departmentally, and not by contract. Messrs. Shelford and Son are the Consulting Engineers, and are not in any sense contractors for the work. No complaints of the kind referred to have been received.
§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEYAre they constructing the line?
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI do not know what meaning the hon. Member attaches to the word "constructing."
§ MR. THOMAS BAYLEYThere is a wide difference between the engineer and the person who is constructing the line.
§ MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI have said that they are the Consulting Engineers.