Mr. LAWasked the Minister of Health whether he will issue instructions to the effect that when a local authority is in the market for commodities of any kind it should invite tenders from independent manufacturers instead of specifying only well-known proprietary articles and thus freezing out the independent manufacturer to the detriment of the interests of the ratepayer?
§ Sir K. WOODIt is the practice, in cases where my sanction is required to a loan, to require open tenders and, where the matter comes before me, to object so far as practicable to the specification of proprietary articles unless there are special reasons to the contrary. Contracts for ordinary supplies which are paid for out of revenue are not subject to my approval.