Military Camps.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 June 1915, Page 2

Military Camps.

j A LEVIN COMPLAINT INVJSSTJ.GATTUD. Tin' follow ing correspondence (sent *o the Mayor of Levin by Mr. "W. H. I" iold, M.P.) has been liauded to the Chronicle for publication:— Office of the Minister of Defence. Wellington, Bth June, 191-5. Dear Sir, —W illi reference to our interview of the 25th May, 1 have enquired into the subject that you mentioned, and find that every endeavour ivas made in the cases of tile Levin and Waikanao camps to obtain local supplies consistent with due economy. In the case of the Levin camp—tlie OLli Mounted llifies—tenders were received from Palmerston -North. Levin and Marton. These were caret ufiv considered and the lowest accepted "n eaeli case, regard being had to the 'whole sum involved in each case. Groceries, forage and bread went to Palmerston North and meat to Levin. 1 am informed that it is not correct to i-ay that the local tenders, although at the same price as outside tenders u'oi e not accepted. in some cases the locd tenderer was less for individual articles, but not on the whole tender, For instance, Broome (.Levin) was Lid per out below Hodder and Tolley for bran of whicli only four owt. wais required, but was Gd dearer per owt for c 11 aft. ot whicli 29 tons was required. J trust this will satisfactorily answer your enquiries.—Yours faithfully, J. ALLI2N To W. li. Field, Esq., Mf?.— Office of the Minister ol Internal Affairs, Wellington, loth June. •1915. Dear Sir, —Referring to_'the deputation that waited upon tlie Hon. Sir Francis Bell, at Levin, on tho 9th April, on the subject of contracts for supplies to the territorial camp, the Minister directs me to say that lie nas received a reply from the Minister ot Defence, to whoine the matter was referred aw promised. The 'following Is the substance of Mr Allen's memorandum Groceries: Six tenders were received, three -being from Levin films. .Each tender was considered as a whole aiid tho ony which .sliotver the lowest daily price was accepted. On this •basis there Mere two lower than the lowest Levin offer. Forage: Five tenders were received, and in only one cas= was a Lovin tenderer ('f. Broome) low er than the accepted contractors. This was in tho case of bran, the difference being (id a owt., and tlie total requirement of this item was only 4 owt. Meat: The lowest tender was. from a Levin firm (Messrs Bulliman Bras.) whose offer -was accepted. Bread: Five, tenders .were received, that from Bust ins Ltd., of Palmers ton North, at Bid. per 41b loaf, -being accepted. Tho thread was baked, however, !by Mr J \V. Scott, of Levin, who tendered at 9<l a loaf. \'ou may, remember that

the Minister /while undertaking to (submit the matter to liis colleague, assured the deputation that no preferonce Bad been given to Palmerston is against iLevin. Sir Francis trusts that it will be agreed thait the particulars above supplied justify the view lit; then took.—Yours faithfully. J. \V li LA UK, Private Secretary. Wellington, June 16, 1915.