MR. T. F. RICHARDSI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that certain Army contractors are permitted to send in to the Pimlico depot Army boots that have been closed by machinery, whereas the specification calls for counters back seam and side seam to be stabbed; whether he is aware that to close the side seams with the 924 machine renders the boot less durable, and gives the favoured manufacturer an advantage over his smaller competitor; and whether he will insist upon the specifications being adhered to.
§ MR. HALDANEThe specifications permit contractors to have the alternative of supplying hand closed or machine closed boots. The experiment of asking for hand closed hoots only was tried for a few months last year, but the Department has now reverted to the alternative of hand or machine closing, which is found to work quite satisfactorily.