§ Major NALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether his attention has been called to certain imputations recently made against the firm of T W. Ward, Limited; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?
Mr. HOPEI assume that my hon. and gallant Friend refers to statements with regard to a large collection of miscellaneous war material which is known as the Zenegham Salvage Dump. The disposal of the whole of this material was entrusted in September last to a syndicate of four firms, one of which is T. W. Ward, Ltd., who work on a commission basis, and are paid according to the net profits realised for the material. Messrs. Ward had no possible motive in keeping purchasers away from the dump, and had, on the contrary, every inducement to effect the best sales possible in the public interest of its contents. On the other hand, the disposal officer concerned rightly directed the attention of purchasers to other dumps in regard to which no selling arrangements had been made, and in so doing he was merely carrying out the policy of the Disposal Board. It is quite true that before the War this officer was connected with Messrs. Ward, but it would have been impossible to find anyone to fill his office who had at once the necessary technical knowledge and at the same time had no connection with the trade. There is not the smallest reason for any imputation on either the ability or honour of this officer, and, in any event, his interest in this matter could not have been in conflict with his duty.