25. Sir HENRY DALZIELasked the hon. Member for the Saffron Walden Division, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether Lord Emmott, as First Commissioner of Works, was consulted as to the terms of the contract with Mr. Meyer in regard to the buying of timber before the contract was made; and did he give his authority for the same to be carried into effect?
§ Mr. BECK (Lord of the Treasury)The matter was mentioned to the First Commissioner, and he told his Department to render all the assistance they could to the War Office, and gave general approval to make such arrangements as they thought best. He was not informed of all the details at the time, but he has since made inquiry about the matter, and he has not the least doubt that a very great saving of public money was effected by the course adopted.
Sir H. DALZIELMay I ask whether, that being interpreted, it means that he knew nothing at all about it?
Sir H. DALZIELMay I ask, did he or did he not know of it before it was concluded? I think "Yes" or "No" would answer the question.
§ Mr. BECKThis is a matter for my Noble Friend, and I must ask my hon. Friend to give notice of the question.
26. Sir H. DALZIELasked whether the hon. Gentleman will state the terms of the communication sent by the Office of Works to 200 timber firms asking them to quote for the supply of timber, and the date on which such communication was made?
§ Mr. BECKIn view of the urgency of the case the method adopted was to instruct local officers of the Office, of Works to make personal inquiry as to stocks and prices in their districts, and to make similar inquiries from the head office where this could be most readily done. The instructions were issued on the 15th of October.
§ Mr. BECKMy hon. Friend is entirely wrong in that question. The Office of Works sent letters to agents in all parts of the country asking them to make full inquiries in every possible case.
Sir H. DALZIELIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the latter part of the question asked about the date of the terms?
§ Mr. BECKI said that the instructions were given on the 15th of October. I am quite willing to show the terms of the letter which was sent to any Member of the House, but only for his own information.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEMay we take it that no circular letter at all was issued?
§ Mr. BECKNo; there was not time. The great point was that the War Office wanted wood very urgently, and the answers to the whole of the inquiries had to be received in three days at the very latest. The Office of Works sent a letter, which I hope the hon. Member will do me the honour of reading, to its people in every corner of the country to make inquiries as to prices and stocks.
27. Sir H. DALZIELasked the hon. Member for the Saffron Walden Division, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether a new contract has now been concluded with Mr. Montague Meyer as buyer of timber for the Government, and, if so, will he state its exact terms?
§ Mr. BECKA new arrangement as to Mr. Meyer's commission is under consideration, but it is not proposed to make any contract otherwise than by a letter supplementing the letter of the 19th of October which is known to my hon. Friend.
Sir H. DALZIELCan the hon. Gentleman give us any idea as to how long these negotiations have been proceeding and, meantime, will he take care that Mr. Meyer stops the advertisement that he is selling the same goods as he is buying for the Government, a copy of which I will be glad to give the hon. Member?
§ Mr. BUTCHERHas the existing contract been rescinded?
§ Mr. BECKI do not wish to take up the time of the House, but the existing contract is in the form of a letter which was dispatched by the Office of Works to Mr. Meyer and was published in the papers, and if he will read it he will see that the contract can be terminated on any day by sending a registered letter.
§ Mr. BUTCHERMy question was—has that contract been rescinded?
§ Mr. LEIF JONESWill the Government consider the proposition of engaging a buyer of timber at a fixed salary?
§ Colonel YATEConsidering all the complaints about these huts would it not be better to put a stop to their further construction?
§ 82. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked whether it is possible to trace any of the timber bought by Mr. Meyer to its ultimate destination in soldiers' huts; and whether any of the huts admittedly built of damp timber come within that category?
§ Mr. BECKIt is not possible to trace all the timber supplied through Mr. Meyer, but a considerable percentage can be traced and the War Office have stated that the supply has proved most satisfactory.