90 and 91. Mr. POINTERasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether, in view of the dispute in the cutlery trade in Sheffield as to whether certain razors made for the War Office by Messrs. Thomas Turner and Company, Sheffield, are in reality hand-forged, he will cause the razors supplied by them in the contract to be tested as to cutting qualities, and whether he will direct that their cutting edges be compared with the Encore razors of the same firm and which are sold as hand-forged, and which are accompanied in the company's catalogue by a special note explaining how the toughness of the steel and the durability of the edge can only be secured by hammering; and (2) if a recent order for hand-forged razors was 1265 given to Messrs. Thomas Turner and Company, cutlery manufacturers, Sheffield; whether, arising out of a complaint that they were not hand-forged, a representative of the firm interviewed the director of contracts of the War Office and also the chief inspector of cutlery and obtained from them permission to continue what is known as the rolled-steel section process; whether, in giving permission to this firm to make hand-forged razors by this process, the representatives of the War Office were aware that the only portion forged by hand was the tang; whether they were aware that is the first occasion on which this firm have stamped razors made by this process as hand-forged, and that a new stamp had to be made for the purpose, and how many razors have been supplied by this firm this year?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Harold Baker)The razors in question have been inspected in the usual way and those accepted are in accordance with the terms of the contract. No question as to special permission to continue any particular process of manufacture has therefore arisen, nor is it proposed to apply any special tests. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the marking of these razors has recently been the subject of proceedings in the Sheffield Police Court, and I do not think it necessary to say anything on the point, in view of the decision given.
Mr. POINTERWhen the War Office stipulated that these razors should be hand-forged, were they not of the opinion that hand-forged razors were the best; and in view of the dispute in the trade, and the statements of the men, is not further inquiry into the subject desirable?
§ Mr. BAKERThe War Office did not specify for them to be hand-forged unless they could be properly so described, and the decision of the stipendiary is that they are properly so described.