§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether an Irish firm offered to supply the Mullingar Asylum with 400 tons of coal at £3 10s. per ton; whether this offer was refused and a tender accepted for 400 tons of imported coal at £4 per ton; and whether, in view of the unnecessary transit by sea and land involving fuel expenditure and waste, he will inquire into this matter and prevent repetition where possible?
§ Mr. SHORTTI understand that the Wolfhill Collieries were prepared to supply coal from their collieries to the Mullingar Asylum at about £3 per ton, and that this offer was not accepted, but Welsh steam coal was supplied through a Mullingar merchant at £4 per ton and Scottish steam coal at £3 15s. per ton. When it was discovered that Welsh coal was being supplied to the Mullingar Asylum and that coal from the Wolfhill Collieries was available, the Welsh coal was at once stopped with a view to saving unnecessary transit.