§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the action of the Birmingham Corporation in buying German rails for the Soho Road tramway in that city; whether he is aware that, when the London County Council bought £41,000 worth of Belgian rails, it was computed by a competent authority that only £1,000 was saved to the rates, whilst £20,000 went to Belgium instead of to British labour; and whether the attention 2233 of the Local Government Board auditor will be drawn to the circumstances?
§ Mr. BURNSI saw the statement contained in the Press on this subject, and am fully aware of the facts as to the purchase of Belgian rails by the London County Council. The matter of the purchase of rails for tramways in the City of Birmingham is not, however, one in regard to which I have any jurisdiction, and except as regards education expenditure the accounts of the town council are not subject to audit by the district auditor.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the doctrine of buying in the cheapest market is regarded by the Birmingham ratepayers as effete Cobdenism, and whether he has reason to believe the ratepayers of Birmingham approve of this specific abandonment of Tariff Reform?
§ Mr. BURNSThat may have been in the past, but it is a matter for congratulation that a great and growing city like Birmingham should have abandoned the parochialism of Protection and reverted to Free Trade.
§ Mr. MacVEAGHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Tariff Reform Corporation of Bournemouth has followed Birmingham's example?