§ 59. Mr. REMERasked the Postmaster-General how many telegraph poles have been bought by the Post Office for delivery during 1933, and what quantity were contracted for in home-grown supplies; how many telegraph poles have been contracted for by Swedish shippers direct, by Norwegian shippers direct, and by a Dutch firm; and, as telegraph poles are not grown in Holland, if he will state the reasons for placing this contract with the Dutch firm?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Ernest Bennett)Orders for poles to be delivered in 1933 are still under negotiation, and it would not be in the public interest that I should reveal at this stage the detailed information for which the hon. Member asks. As usual, the Post Office will order all the homegrown poles of suitable size and quality which are offered at a price within reasonable range of the foreign; but these will clearly cover only a fraction of the total requirements, and as the very few tenders of Empire poles offer unacceptable timber at a prohibitive price we must rely on the staple sources of supply, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Orders for poles from these countries are placed according to the merits of the tenders, without regard to the nationality of the firm tendering: and one has been placed 516 with a Dutch firm which quotes a favourable price and has been found highly reliable.
§ Mr. REMERIs it not a fact that the Dutch firm were allowed to alter their tender after the tender forms had been sent in?
§ Sir E. BENNETTI do not think that is a point which arises out of this question. I only say for the moment that the Dutch firm satisfies us in every requirement.