§ Mr. FIELDasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that on the 23rd January ultimo all the Irish tobacco manufacturers received notice from the War Office requesting tenders for 93,750 lbs. of cut tobacco, and that no Irish firm 1147W received part of the contract; and whether he can state the reasons which prevented the War Office from sharing this contract with the tobacco manufacturers in Ireland?
Mr. BAKERNine tenders were received from Irish firms on the occasion referred to, but all were rejected on account of price, except in one case, where the sample was not satisfactory.