§ 32 Brigadier-General CROFTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office
- (1) Whether he is aware that the Surveyor-General of Supply at the War Office has been buying articles of food in competition with the Ministry of Food; is he aware that the Surveyor-General was negotiating with firms in the dried fruit trade at Basra for a supply of dates in August, 1917, when the Ministry of Food was also negotiating in the same market; and did the Surveyor-General decline to buy through the Ministry of Food and thus save competitive buying;
- (2) Whether he is aware that the Surveyor-General of Supply purchased a large quantity of dates in October, 1917, at 20s. 6d. when the Ministry of Food purchased a similar quantity and quality at 18s. 6d. per cwt.; and what saving would have been made on this transaction had these orders been executed in August by the Ministry of Food;
- (3) Whether he is aware that at the time of the purchase of dates in August, 1917, 75 per cent. of the supply of dates were in the hands of a combine, consisting of Messrs. Andrew Weir and Company,
3413 Messrs, Strick, Scott and Company, and Messrs. Gray, Dawes and Company; that the price of dates at that time was 16s. per cwt. f.o.b. for the best quality; and that, in consequence of the delay due to the refusal of the Surveyor-General of Supply to co-operate with the Ministry of Food, the price increased from 16s. per cwt. for the best quality, Hallawee, to 20s. 6d. for the same quality and a similar quantity: - (4) Whether the combine of which the firm of Andrew Weir and Company are members supply dates and other dried fruit to the Armies in Palestine and Mesopotamia; and, if so, will he state what quantity, and at what price; and whether the Surveyor-General of Supply had any other dealings with Messrs. Andrew Weir and Company;
- (5) Whether the facts with regard to the increased price of dates in 1917 and the attitude of the Surveyor-General of Supply were brought to the notice of the War Cabinet by the late Lord Rhondda; and what action did the Cabinet take in the matter; and
- (6) Whether the firm of Andrew Weir and Company, of London and Basra, are in any way connected with the firm of which the Surveyor-General of Supply is chief partner?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not aware of any purchase made by the Surveyor-General of Supply in competition with the Ministry of Food. The Army purchases of Basra dates in 1917 were made by the Chief Political Officer, Basra, on the advice of the India Office. After arrangements had been made for these purchases the Ministry of Food approached the War Office suggesting co-operation, but it was considered inadvisable to withdraw the instructions already given for that season, though for the present season joint purchases are being made on behalf of the War Office and the Ministry of Food. The difference noted in the prides paid by the War Office and the Ministry of Food was due to the fact that the Ministry of Food bought after the War Office had filled its requirements when there remained no other market for the holders of stocks, export being at the time rigidly controlled. No question regarding the purchase of dates was brought to the notice of the War Cabinet. The Surveyor-General of Supply is a member of the firm of Messrs. Andrew Weir and Company, who have an interest in the date industry at 3414 Basra, but he has taken no part in the activities of the firm since his appointment to the War Office. It is not known to what extent, if any, the firm indicated was interested in the purchases effected by the Political Officer at Basra. The Surveyor-General of Supply has had no dealings of any kind whatever with the firm in question.
§ General CROFTHas any representative of the Surveyor-General of Supply had any dealings with this combine?
§ Mr. FORSTERNot to my knowledge.