§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of contracts, during the period of the supply of home-fed beef, were held by the nominees of other people who are interested in Foreign lairages; whether he will cause an examination to be made of these gentlemen's accounts with the various carrying companies from Wood-side Lairage, Birkenhead, to the several Army stations from which they have held contracts; whether he intends to take-any measures in regard thereto; and whether he will consider the advisability, at the expiration of the existing contracts, of making arrangements to receive home-produced animals, sheep and cattle, alive, and allow the soldiers to do the necessary work at the various stations.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) It does not appear that an inquiry into the working of expired contracts, which would hardly be practicable, could serve any useful purpose. As regards the last part of the Question there are at present four stations at which cattle are slaughtered by the troops, and it is not proposed to increase the number.