43. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the charges made by Messrs. Cox for the dispatch from Folkestone to Scotland of officers' surplus kit returned from the front, such parcels having been conveyed by the Government free of charge to Folkestone; and whether, in view of the fact that special facilities are granted to Messrs. Cox, the War Office refuses to recognise any responsibility for their charges being reasonable?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe special facilities given to Messrs. Cox and Company as regards surplus kits are convenient in view of the arrangements under which they forward the regulation kits; but in the case of the surplus kits officers are free to make any other arrangement they prefer, and the War Office are not responsible for Messrs. Cox and Company's charges.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the charges of Messrs. Cox are much above the average rate, and, in view of the fact that they are granted special facilities which are not granted to any other firm, does the hon. Gentleman not think that it is the concern of the War Office to see that the charges are reasonable?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir, I really do not think that it is. If there is complaint about the matter of surplus kits, the best way of avoiding it is for officers not to take surplus kits abroad.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIf the War Office are of opinion that they have no concern with the rates charged by a firm which is given special facilities, will they undertake to give the same facilites to other and competing firms in order that officers at the front may not be overcharged?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe question of privileges being granted to Messrs. Gox and Company arose from their forwarding the regulation kit. If officers choose to make their own arrangements for the carriage of their surplus kits by other means than through Messrs. Cox, they are at liberty to do so.
Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTIf the War Office prohibit other means and will not grant these privileges to other people what is the good of saying that they can send by other firms?