HL Deb 20 February 1902 vol 103 cc554-6
LORD MONKSWELL

My Lords, I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War, who I am glad to see in his place again after his recent indisposition, what the practice is with regard to the distribution of meat to the troops in South Africa; and, in particular, whether the contractors are not allowed the free use of military wagons to some extent; and, if so, to what extent.

*THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Lord RAGLAN)

My Lords, I think I can best answer the noble Lord's Question by quoting the forty-first paragraph of the contract into which we have just entered, which provides that supplies shall be delivered by the contractor at such times and places as the commanding officer may direct at his (the contractor's) own expense, and he paying all expenses connected therewith. The clause proceeds— Should exceptional circumstances exist the officer commanding may consider the advisability of giving the contractor such assistance in this respect as may be in his power; but it is cleanly to be understood that such assistance will be an indulgence and not a right.' I can add nothing to statements already made as to the difficulties of distribution among troops in various positions in South Africa. It is not surprising that the prices were in proportion to the difficulties. As to the amount of assistance which the military authorities actually do afford as an indulgence to the contractor, I am afraid I cannot give any general information; but it is obvious that such assistance would vary according to circumstances, and that the military would do everything in their power to assist the contractor, not relieving him from responsibility in the matter.

LORD MONKSWELL

I should like to know if the conditions mentioned are alike in the former and present contracts. The price in the former contract was defended on the ground that the unsettled state of the country entailed heavy expenses on the contractor from which the contractor will now be relieved.

*LORD RAGLAN

I believe the former contract contained the same clause, but then the railway was subject to frequent breaks from which it does not now suffer, and the difficulties of distribution were much greater.

LORD MONKSWELL

I am at a loss to understand what considerable expense the contractor could have been put to.

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (The Marquess of LANSDOWNE)

The point made by my noble friend the Under Secretary for War was that the expenses of distribution must have been very much greater at the beginning of the war, when a large part of the country was in the hands of the enemy, than they are now, when a large part of South Africa has been restored to something like order.

LORD MONKSWELL

I should have thought that, under the clause giving the military authorities power to assist in the distribution of meat, they would have given more assistance when the country was disturbed than when it was not.