§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the complaint of the Irish tailors that candidates for Army 1014 appointments almost invariably obtain their uniforms and outfits in London; whether he is aware that the military authorities furnish the candidates with official papers indicating different places in London to purchase their uniforms and outfits; and whether he will make inquiry, and arrange that Dublin and London shall be put upon equal terms in regard to such supplies.
(Answered by Mr. Bryce.) The selection of a tailor in Ireland, as in England, is left entirely to the discretion of the individual officers who deal with them. Candidates on passing are informed officially by the War Office that they can have forwarded on application the price lists of all those firms in Great Britain and Ireland who have availed themselves of the opportunity of submitting their lists to the War Office for the provision of officers' outfits on cash terms. The reason of this practice on the part of the War Office is that it is attempting to insure moderation in charges. Commanding officers are, however, forbidden to order any young officer to purchase his uniform from any particular tailor.