§ MR. SHEEHAN (Cork County, Mid.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether ho is aware that.an order, signed by Major M. F. Halford, dated July 9th, was issued at York, to the effect that in consequence of the unsatisfactory conditions of the contracts between the Canteen and Mess Co-operative Society, Limited, and the units in command dealing with the society, the General Officer Commanding - in- Chief directed that no fresh contracts should lie entered into with this society, and that all existing contracts should be terminated as soon as other arrangements could be made; is this the same Canteen and Mess Society which was fined £10 and costs at Bailincollig, county Cork, potty sessions, on June 4th last, for having sold margarine not marked or branded as such in the military canteen at Ballincollig; and is he aware that this same company are supplying civilians with drink and other goods at Ballincollig in contravention of a War Office order strictly forbidding this practice; and will he see that immediate arrangements are made whereby a company, guilty of malpractices alleged in this Question, shall not be allowed to continue in control of the military canteen at Ballincollig.
§ MR. HALDANEAs regards the first part of the Question, I am aware of the order alluded to, and the matter is receiving my attention. As regards the second part of the Question, no information has reached the War Office, but the attention of the General Officer Commanding will be drawn to the points raised in the Question.