97. Sir HENRY DALZIELasked whether the Cork National Shell Factory, far which the Dunlop Rubber Company, Limited, tendered the sum of £4,500, has been sold and, if so, to whom and at what price; whether he is aware that the Dunlop Rubber Company, Limited, who were informed that their tender was the highest received, were subsequently compelled to withdraw their offer owing to the unusual methods of the Department concerned and the prolonged delay in accepting or refusing their tender; whether the attention of the Minister of Munitions has been drawn to the letter written by the Dunlop Rubber Company, Limited, on the 14th April, 1919, to the Ministry of Munitions and the reply on 16th April, 1919, of a Mr. F. Lyall on behalf of the Director of Area Organisation; and whether he can offer any explanation of the procedure that has been followed in this case?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe sale of this factory is not concluded and until negotiations are completed I am unable to answer the first part of the question. There was no obligation upon the Ministry to accept any tender and the present negotiations were not commenced until the Dunlop Company withdrew their offer.
Sir H. DALZIELIs it usual for the Minister of Munitions to give the opportunity to one tenderer to revise his tender after the tenders have been put in?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThere has been nothing improper in the negotiations, and what has been done was done with a desire to secure for the public the highest possible price for the property.