§ MR. MOONEY (Newry)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in January, 1905, the Home Office inspectors refused to sanction the manufacture of an explosive now know as Abbcite, at Arklow, Ireland, whilst at the same time giving permission for its manufacture at Kynochton, Essex; if so, will he state what justification the inspectors had for their preference; and can he state on what day was the policy of discrimination in favour of Essex abandoned by the Home Office.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)This explosive was tested at Woolwich on the 30th December, 1904 and six days later, on 5th January, 1905 a definition of the explosive was sent to Messrs. Kynoch containing conditions that it should be manufactured at the Kynochton factory, because that was the factory at which the sample was made which was actually tested. Six days later, on 11th January, 1905, the firm requested that the definition might 1409 be amended so as to permit manufacture at Arklow. His Majesty's inspector thereupon requested the firm to submit a sample of this explosive which had been manufactured at Arklow, in order that they might be satisfied that the manufacture of it was fully understood there. Four days after that, on 16th January, the firm sent in an explanation upon which the Department yielded to their request, and on the 17th they were informed that the definition of the explosive would be so amended as to permit the manufacture at Arklow without any further tests. The consequent formal application to be allowed to manufacture was made by the firm seventeen days later, on 3rd February, 1905. On 9th February a draft amending licence was sent for their observations and was returned by them on the 17th. The licence was signed and sent to the firm on 3rd March, 1905. On 11th February I made an Order putting this explosive, whether made at Arklow or at Kynochton, on the list of explosives permitted to be used in fiery or dusty mines. It will be seen, therefore, that the action of my Department caused no delay whatever in the production of the explosives at Arklow.