ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS.

Evening Star, Issue 11674, 5 February 1902, Page 6

ARMY MEAT CONTRACTS.

AN UNSATISFACTORY ANSWER.

THE COLONIES DEPENDENT UPON THE CONTRACTOR'S HONOR.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, February 4.

Replying to Lord Carsington in the House of Lords, the Earl of Raglan said he helieved that last year a proportion of Argentine beef was supplied to the army, hut owing to a more settled outlook Lord Kitchener had decided to widen the area of competition. Three firms had tendered, the Bergl Company being lowest. There were no grounds for the colonial protests. Everything that could reasonably be expected had been done to encourage the colonial meat. Lord Raglan further said that before the contract was finally clinched, and, he understood, before the colonial protests were received, the contractor gave a written undertaking to give Australasia preference as far as possible, and that if the prices were reasonable Australia should furnish the bulk of the requirements. Lord Carrington is pressing his rnqniries further.

Lord Stanley stated in the House of Commons that the Bergl Company informed the War Office that a number of prominent South African firms were providing a capital of £500,000 to work the contract. Lord Stanley believed that Wernher and Beit, South African capitalists, were not connected with the scheme.

TENDERS FOR OATS

MORE CRASS STUPIDITY.

THE PREMIER'S PLAIN TALK.

At Mcnday night' 3 banquet at Nelson the Premier referred to the order recently received by the Government for oats, and said he had now received the conditions, ■which were such that it was next to impossible for producers to comply with them, and he doubted whether any firm would offler. The conditions were that the oats should be shipped "n March and April, in bags of the best quality, containing 801b net, ;mcl be inspected by the Government. Tho cost of rcbagging, if necessary, at the port of discharge was to fall on the contractors, the decision of the military authorities on this matter to be final The steamer r\w to carry no deck cargo, and the steamer's name, port of loading, and the date of shipment were to be reported. Notice of any alteration, upon the steamer calling for orders at Durban, was to be giv>m within twenty-four hours. On arriving the vessel might be required to discharge at two of the following ports:—Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Cape Tovn, or Delagoa Bay. In the case of the .'■teamer being unable to cross the bar or East London, the lighterage to be paid for by the contractor; the oats to be unloaded at the average rate of not less than 250 tons a day, the British Government paying demurrage at the» rate of 6d a day per net registered ton, and half a day's demurrage only paid in case of detention not ex' ceding twelve hours. On arrival at Durban an advance of 80 per cent, would be made in London on the \alue of the cargo, exclusive of freight, on the production of insurance policies and bills of lading. The insurance was to be effected by approved underwriters, or companies in the case of freight, and, freight contingencies being insured, the advance would be 80 per cent, of the invoice value, and the' balance du.> would be paid in London within fourteen days of ti»e receipt of a cable from the gentral officer commanding at Cape Town notifying the discharge. With regard to any payment to a contractor in respuct of freight or demurrage, he would have to indemnify the War Office s gainst the claims of the shipowner for tna cancelling of the contract in the case of the vessel not arrving at the port of discharge on the date to be agreed upon. The Premier said it was an insult to offer such terms.