IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 347, 22 February 1902, Page 2

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

WAR OFFICE SCANDALS,

THE MEAT CONTRACT.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrighi

London, Feb. 21

The House of Commons, by 263 to 166, agreed to sit tho full time on the first fourdays of the week, thus enabling them to havo a longer week-end holiday. Mr Brodriclc, replying to questions recently formulated in the Daily Express in reference to army remounts, said that no unbroken horses wore purchased in Australia. Borgl’s offer of horses was not accepted. The rates paid to Houlder Bros, was sixteen to eighteen pounds. Government was not aware if others paid eight pounds. The Daily Express, in reply, says that an Australian shipper, states that ho carried five thousand horses for BadcnPowell and others at eight pounds. In the House of Lords Lord Carrington moved the production of all papers in connection with tenders for the army meat contract. Ho denounced the enormous profits of last contract. Lord Raglan said that tho Government accepted the lowest out of fifty-five tenders for the new contract, with a currency of five years. Lord Lansdowne said that all agreed that after'the colonies’ splendid behavior no effort ought to he spared to give them the chance of freely competing on such opportunity. The speaker did not deny Bcrgl’s statements. The profits stated by rival companies was required to be taken with a grain of salt. The Public Accounts Committee of the House of Commons declared that the last contract was justifiable in view of the difficulty of getting a supply and the uncertainty of events. They thought it would have been better if t.-icre had been separate contracts for five and frozen moat. Borgl’s contract stood unaltered, but monthly inspections and reports at intervals have been arranged in order to secure honorable observance. The contractors promise to deal with the colonies as far as possible.

The Admiralty’s.contract for the supply of meat to the ships in Simon's Bay was sfjd, compared with Bergl’s 54d, with distribution. It would be impolitic to produce the tenders. Immediate inquiry would be improper and inconvenient. The motion was negatived without division.