§ 21. Sir ARTHUR MARKHAMasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether since the War, Custodis, Limited, have banded a chimney shaft at the Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth; whether this German company were also given orders to repair No. 1 and No. 3 smitheries chimney shafts at the same dockyard; whether this work was given to this firm on day-work rates, and was discontinued owing to this firm sending in false time sheets in connection with the work; whether the Admiralty were aware at the time they gave the order to Custodis, Limited, that this was a German company, and managed by German alien enemies living in London; and whether he will now strike this firm, which falsely purported to be a British firm, off the list of Government contractors?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe works referred to were carried out by the Alphons Custodis Chimney Construction Company, Limited—not Custodis, Limited—under two small lump sum local contracts, amounting together to less than £60. As regards the charge of presenting false time sheets, it appears that on a small item done on day-work rates the time claimed did not agree with the yard record, and on its being pointed out to the firm they accepted the calculation made by the yard officer. 1323 These two small contracts were placed locally under a rule which devolves upon the responsible local works officer at the large yards the power to place a contract on his own authority up to the value of £500. The first of the two contracts, amounting to £42 10s., had been placed before the outbreak of hostilities; the second, for £13 7s. 6d., was placed in September. They have received no orders locally since. The firm were known to the Admiralty as a German-American firm, who manufactured in this country the special materials used in their work They had some years ago executed a piece of work under a contract placed from the central office in this locality and also at Portland; but they had received no contract made centrally either since the outbreak of hostilities or for some considerable period before that time. It is not proposed that this firm should receive further contracts from the Admiralty, and instructions have been issued to local officers of works that no local contracts must be placed with them.