§ 21. Mr. JOHN O'CONNORasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the conditions of the meat contracts for the Army in Ireland have been complied with in respect to the contracts entered into last November for meat supplies to the Curragh Camp; were tenders requested from competent firms or persons for a period of three months, and, if not, what other system was adopted and, if any change, what was the reason for such; was condition 1 of the Mobilisation Form (Ireland) in respect to the trade and calling of the person or firm to whom the contract may be given complied with on the above occasion; will he say who is the present contractor and where he resides and carries on business; what is his usual business; did he tender for the contract, and was his the lowest price; has any gain or loss ensued upon the operation of the contract; was there any complaint of the former contractor; and is it intended to revert to the custom of three-monthly contracts and to invite tenders?
§ Mr. FORSTERThere were no complaints against the former contractor for the supply of meat for the troops at the Curragh, but it was decided for reasons of policy to discontinue, as from November, 1595 1916, the contract system in that district and to substitute experimentally a system under which the War Department buys cattle direct from farms and other sellers and arranges for the slaughter and distribution by military labour at the Department's abattoir. The whole question of the supply of meat in Ireland is now under consideration, but there is no present intention of reverting to the contract system at the Curragh. As no contract for the supply of meat at the Curragh has been made for any period after October, 1916, the other points mentioned in the question do not arise.
§ Mr. O'CONNORIf what the right hon. Gentleman states is the case how docs it come to pass that a man in Belfast should supervise or buy the cattle that were to be slaughtered by the soldiers?
§ Mr. FORSTERI think we have our own buyers buying in all parts of Ireland.
§ Mr. O'CONNORHow does it come to pass that a stockbroker in Belfast should be employed to buy something about which he knew absolutely nothing?
§ Mr. FORSTERMy hon. Friend is mixing up two different cases. The gentleman to whom he refers has nothing to do with the provision of meat at the Curragh?
§ Mr. JOYCECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is an Irishman on the committee which deals with this matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERI do not think it is dealt with by a committee.
§ Mr. O'CONNORCan the right hon. Gentleman give me a copy of that answer, because it is entirely opposite to my knowledge?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes.