§ MR. JAMES O'CONNOR (Wicklow, W.)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether foreign hay is being supplied to the artillery camp in the Glen of Imaal, county Wicklow; if so, can he state the names of the contractors and the period for which the contract has been made; whether tenders for the contract were invited by advertisement in the Wicklow or other Irish papers; and whether the forage contractors resident in the district of Imaal were given any opportunity of tendering for the supply of hay to the camp.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe camp is not at present occupied, and therefore no hay is being supplied to it. In readiness for the last training the General Officer Commanding Curragh obtained tenders and made contracts for the supplies required for a period of about four months. The forage contractor was Mr. P. Fitzgerald. I am not aware whether the requirements were advertised.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORCan the right hon. Gentleman say where Mr. Fitzgerald resides?
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. WYNDHAM,) DoverI cannot, but I should judge from his name that he is an Irishman.
§ MR. JAMES O'CONNORBut he does not live in Ireland.
§ MR. WYNDHAMNo.
§ MR. NANNETTI (Dublin, College Green)Why was not this contract advertised in the Dublin papers? Is it not usual to do so?
§ MR. WYNDHAMYes, but in this case it was not thought necessary.
§ MR. NANNETTIWill the right hon. Gentleman see that they are so advertised in the future?
§ MR. WYNDHAMI see no reason to change the existing system, which has been followed with advantage for many years.
§ MR. T. M. HEALYWas the lowest tender accepted?
§ MR. WYNDHAMThat is the usual practice. If the lowest tender were passed over it would be because it was thought the tenderer would not be able to carry it out.
§ MR. NANNETTIWill the right hon. gentleman take care that the Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons is enforced in these cases, so that there shall be no exploiting of cheap labour?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order.
§ MR. TULLY (Leitrim, S.)Was the advertisement sent to the Freeman's Journal?
§ MR. NANNETTISend it to Tully's paper.