§ Mr. FIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received a complaint pointing out the manner in which tenders for Irish bedding and furniture are handicapped owing to the absence of a War Office receiving depot in Dublin; and whether he is aware that the importation of this class of supplies involves a heavy expenditure in freight, which would be avoided by having a receiving depot in Dublin?
Mr. BAKERI have not received any such complaint. It is no doubt true that expenditure on freight is involved in the present system, but there are other con-1318W siderations which at present outweigh the advantages of establishing a depot at Dublin on the lines proposed by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. FIELDasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the extra cost of freight and carriage, and the delay and inconvenience of forwarding samples of goods to London, with the additional loss and frequently damage to samples on the return journey, is the main cause of paucity of Irish tenders; and whether, in view of this fact, the War Office will reconsider their attitude and grant equality of opportunity to Irish manufactures and commodities by establishing a receiving military stores depot in Dublin?
Mr. BAKERThe circumstances to which the hon. Member draws attention may be regarded as one of the causes of paucity of Irish tenders, but for the reason already given, I regret that the War Office cannot at the present reconsider its decision in the matter.