51
Questions.
4. (b). If orders are put up to ten-
der only for those firms on the Crown Agents' lists, how are these firms selected ?
Answers.
(b & c). No definite information.is available on these points, but a refe- rence to appendix 22 of the Report of the Public Works Commission shows that in 10 (c). Can any reputable firm on ap-orders for the Public Works Department years the Crown Agents carried out 379
plication be placed on the Crown Agents' lists, or do the Crown Agents exercise a right to refuse to place a firm on their list ?
(a). In the event of such a re-
fusal, has the firm thus re- jected any right of appeal and, if so, to whom?
and that these orders were placed with 101 different Firms. The field of selec- tion is therefore very wide. No objection is raised by the Crown Agents if this Government asks that a particular order may be placed with a particular Firm, and Government has every reason to be satis- fied with the quality and price of the stores supplied to it.
Yes. To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
I would lay on the table Farliamentary Paper C.3075 of 1881 relative to the functions of the Crown Agents, which has already been once laid on this table in 1894.