§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade why the 470 standards of flooring boards sold by Mr. Montague L. Meyer to Messrs. Hillas had been in stock for two years when within that period there had been numerous applications by other firms to purchase these goods for cash, and replies had been received from Mr. Meyer that he had no stock on hand?
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§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEApplications from the trade to purchase from stocks of Government Imported Timber were only considered prior, to the Armistice if urgent necessity could be shown. I am unable to state whether any applications were received after the Armistice for the purchase of the parcel of 470 standards of flooring boards, without having the files searched, which would involve undue labour and expense now that the Department which conducted sales has been closed.
§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the statements being made that Mr. Montague L. Meyer, though a Government official, is interested in several businesses in addition to the business of Messrs. Hillas; whether, in view of these statements, he will allow a small committee of this House to investigate the names to whom the 1,168 flooring boards at £31 per standard and less were sold; and whether, if the list of names coincides with the list of names referred to above, he will agree to a complete inquiry into the subject?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEMr. Montague L. Meyer, who acted in a temporary capacity as Government timber buyer, gave notice on 15th February, 1920, to terminate the engagement, which came to an end on 15th May last. I have no knowledge of the timber businesses in which Mr. Meyer is now interested, but no facts have been brought to my notice which make it desirable to appoint a committee as suggested in the question.
§ Mr. REMERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether during the War the firm of Montague L. Meyer acted as timber buyers under his Department; whether the partners in that firm were Mr. Montague L. Meyer, Mr. Percy Meyer, and Colonel Williams; whether he is aware that the last-named gentleman, since the signing of the Armistice, started business under the title of Montague L. Meyer, Limited, while his two partners remained as Government servants; whether he is aware that shortly after this arrangement had been come to an order was sent by Mr. J. J. Fogg, buyer for the London and North Western Railway Company, for Californian redwood boards, the property of the Government, addressed to the Board of Trade, Timber 463W Supply Department; whether Mr. Fogg received a telephone message from, a salesman in the employ of Montague L. Meyer, Limited, that the order should be made out to his firm; whether the timber in question was purchased by Montague L. Meyer, Limited, from the Government, and a profit made out of the transaction by that firm; whether, when attention was called to this transaction under pressure from the Government, Montague L. Meyer, Limited, repaid to the Board of Trade the amount of profit made on this transaction; and whether, in view of the undesirable nature of this matter, he will take steps to have full inquiry made into the whole working of Mr. Meyer's departments, including the case of the flooring boards sold to Messrs. Hillas much below the market price?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe statements contained in the question are substantially in accordance with the facts. The transactions referred to formed the subject of investigation by the Timber Advisory Committee, of which the hon. Member was a member. After investigating the case the Timber Advisory Committee, unanimously passed the following Resolution
That in the opinion of the Committee the occurrence was due to an error on the part of one of the employés of the Imported Timber Disposal Section, for which Mr. Meyer was responsible as being the head. The Committee are satisfied that Mr. Meyer had no personal knowledge of the matter, and accept the regret of the Department. The Committee recommend that in future no stocks should be reserved for any particular buyer.The hon. Member was, I understand, present and concurred in the Resolution. In these circumstances I do not propose to institute any further investigation.