ARMY CLOTHING CONTRACTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2884, 23 September 1916, Page 11

ARMY CLOTHING CONTRACTS

/. ■/ "♦ 'ANOTHER PERSECUTION 'AND FINE. Mr. L. G. Reid, S.M.,,heard tho case brought by Alfred Montagu Adams, of the Defence Department, against H. G. Bedell, clothing manufacturer, for a breach of contract. The. charge was that, on July 10, he did wilfully break a. contract made with the Crown on January 10, 1916,' for the purpose of the presont war, to wit, a contract for the supply of military garments, by delivering to the Crown in pursuance of that contract certain goods which were not in accordance with tho.terms thereof, and contrary to Regulation 12 of the War Regulations, dated November 15, 1915, made pursuant to the War Regulations Act, 1914. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey appeared for the Crown, and Mr. T.' Young for the defendant. Mr. Young at the outset informed the Magistrate that Bedell would plead guilty under extenuating circumstances. Mr. Macassey, in outlining the faots, stated that after 2725 tunics had been delivered by defendant, it was disclosed that cotton was being used in the seams, which was a breach of the contract, mid the contract was accordingly cancelled. The defendant was usmg thread at tho outset, but the colour did not match tho cloth, and as the .contract progressed he was faced with numerous rejections. Then, without tho permission of the Department, he used cotton of tho correct colour'of tho cloth, and it was 'but fair to say that the cotton was of the best quality. Although Bedell thus broke his contract,, ho was not actuated by any desire to malco a profit for himself or cause any joss to the Department. Tho Minister of Munitions, said Mr. Macassoy, was determined to vigorously .prosecute all defaulting contractors, but .'in the present case a heavy penalty was not sought: Mr. T. Young, for tho defendant, said that Mr. .'Macassey had put the caso very fairly. The defendant made nothing out of his can tract by using cotton. Ho was permitted to use cotton on the outside of tho tunic, but not in the seams. Ho presumed thoro. would be no complaint if he used the best quality cotton in the seams, more especially as it mado ;i botter job. Tho defendant's supplies- of thread of the right colour went down in tho Riingutira, otberwiso there would have been no difficulty.' The Magistrate said that a.certain amount of penalty should bo imposed to act as a waniiug to contractors; ho would take into consideration' tho special circumstances in this case, and would imposo a fine of ;ClO, with costs.