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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

-

SIR,

(No. 168.)

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Jamaica-Government Printing Office--Requisition 95.

Downing Street, London, August 30, 1901.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd July, No. 5536/6922, transmitting a copy of a Minute by the Government Printer as to the supposed delay in the execution of the requisition of the 23rd February for stores for his Department.

2. We have drawn the attention of Messrs. Waterlow and Son to the complaint "of the Government Printer, and I enclose a copy of their reply.

3. The goods were due for delivery on the 23rd June, but more than five-sixths of them, taking the money value, were despatched on the 24th May, and the balance followed on the 7th June. It will thus be seen that Mr. Ford's statement as to

practically three months" being occupied is not in accordance with the facts.

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4. It is, of course, possible that greater rapidity in the execution of orders might be obtained if consideration as to quality and price were wholly disregarded, but we cannot think that it is desired that we should deal with requisitions for stationery stores on such a basis, and we would, therefore, suggest that the difficulty should be overcome by sending in demands more in advance of requirements than appears to be the present practice, and by asking for stock patterns rather than articles of special manufacture whenever possible. We do not think that any inconvenience could be caused by preparing indents at an earlier date, since requirements in the way of station- ery are easy to forecast,

5. I beg to add that this is not the first occasion on which the Government Printer has made assertions which have proved to be unfounded-see our letter of the 7th March, 1893, No. 207/921.

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary,

Jamaica.

I have, &c.,

E. E. BLAKE.

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2. The Governor has read this correspondence and that referred to in para- graph 5 of your letter, and finds that the main facts are not in dispute, namely, that orders are, as a rule, not supplied for two or three months, or longer, after they have reached your hands, a much longer delay than would, His Excellency believes, be tolerated by a Merchant or private person giving orders to a tradesman.

3. It would be more convenient for this Government if this period could be shortened in the case of stock articles to say ten days or a fortnight, and His Excel- lency cannot conceive any reason why this should not be done, with due regard to quality and to price.

4. It is suggested by you that the orders should be sent earlier, and while this Government is anxious to do everything in its power to meet your wishes, His Ex- cellency is not convinced that it is possible to find fault with the Heads of Depart- ments for not transmitting the orders earlier since they have to regulate them by the Votes placed at their disposal and the actual requirements of the Service. In case where any special articles are ordered which might have been more cheaply and speedily procured if stock articles serving the same purpose were substituted, His Excellency would be greatly obliged if you would, in filling the order, send out samples. and prices which could be forwarded to the different Departments for their future guidance.

I have, &c.,

The Crown Agents for the Colonies, Downing Street,

London, S.W.

SYDNEY OLIVIER,

Colonial Secretary.

}

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',

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Messrs. WATERLOW and SONS to CROWN AGENTS.

Jamaica-Government Printing-Requisition 95.

GENTLEMEN,

26, Great Winchester Street, E.C., August 16, 1901. WE beg to say we have investigated this matter and find the majority of the items had to be specially manufactured; the time taken was not excessive considering there were 1,830 books of various kinds, which had to be made, and it is very unde- sirable to hasten the manufacture too rapidly as on arrival the books would not give satisfaction; only a very few were stock items, and to have shipped these by themselves would have entailed additional expense which we have always understood the Govern- ment of Jamaica were desirous of keeping down.

It is to be regretted the Colonial Government did not mention that all items obtainable were to be shipped in advance, as in that case we should have sent the few items in stock by first steamer. If they will kindly do this in future we will take care their instructions are carried out.

(No. 8855.)

GENTLEMEN,

Yours, &c.,

Waterlow and Sons,

J. BASS, Managing Director.

Colonial Secretary's Office, October 8, 1901.

I AM desired by the Governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 168, dated the 30th of August, 1901, on the subject of the representation by the Superintendent of the Government Printing Office of delay in the execution of his Requisition for supplies, which was transmitted to you through the Secretary of State in His Excellency's despatch, No. 98, of the 26th February last.

Enclosure 2 in No. 21.

"B."

LIST OF COMPLAINTS MADE AGAINST CROWN AGENTS DURING PAST THREE YEARS,

Nature of Complaint.

Date of Correspondence with Secretary of State on the subject.

Inability of Crown Agents to ob-, Nit

tain iron and steel work for St.; Catherine's District Prison in time and at estimated cost. From Director of Public Works Ni

complaining of delay in supply- ing gates of Lunatic Asylum, and also of error in their design.

From Inspector-General complain- Nil

ing that razors supplied through Crown Agents were 8 short.

From Kingston General Commis- Nil

sioners complaining of (1) exces- sive breakage in transit of closet pans and traps, and of (2) defec- tive inspection of fireclay pipes.

From Superintendent, Government | Nil

Printing Office, complaining of delay.

From Inspector-General complain- Sil

ing 50 helmets received with no buttons.

From Kingston General Commis- Nil

sioners complaining of excessive cost of freight on goods sent by 8.S." Cayo Layo.“

:

Result,

Ironwork obtained from the

United States of America.

Crown Agents written to on 12th January, 1898, they replied explaining delay and stating error bad been remedied.

Crown Agents written to 4th February, 1898, and replied saying Colony had been credited with the value of the

razors.

Crown Agents, written to and deny that breakage was due

to cureless packing, and for- ward memo, by the Inspector with reference to his inspec-, tions. Crown Agenta written to on 7th July, 1898, but did not apparently reply. Crown Agents corresponded

with, they expressed regret Inspector did not notice the omission before helmets shipped.

Crown Agents written to 5th July, 1898. replied explaining.

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