§ Mr. DENMANasked if there was any official information to show that the design of the crane for the Thames Ironworks Company submitted by the German firm was greatly superior to that of the British firm.
§ Mr. McKENNAThe designs were not submitted to the Admiralty, who therefore are unable to express any opinion as to the relative merits of the British and the German designs for floating cranes. The order given by the Thames Ironworks Company was naturally and properly given on their own responsibility. The English firm who tendered for the contract are on the Admiralty list, which is a sufficient assurance of the high opinion which we have formed of the excellence of the firm's work.