CO885-(7-8) — Page 526

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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later, as a means of keeping dilatory contractors up to time. The following extract from a report written in 1898 by our inspector of General Stores is of interest as show- ing the treatment which a Government is liable to receive from a good firm when it does not protect itself by inspection :-

* Prior to 1896 silver grey paint in large quantities was supplied to the Niger Coast authorities. This paint cost 30s, per cwt., and was obtained without competition from a firm of good repute. When the Crown Agents came upon the scene an order for similar paint was given to the same firm. The paint was examined in accordance with your system of inspection and found to contain 79.2 per cent. of barium sulphate, ie., nearly ths of the whole quantity consisted of a material almost valueless as a pig- ment, and nearly destitute of covering power. A good quality of silver grey paint can be supplied for 15s, per cwt., half the cost of this paint obtained from a contractor of good repute but without inspection."

25. Another illustration, in a different class of supply, was obtained in 1899, when contrary to our usual practice, we dispensed with inspection in the case of two four-oared gigs, which were being built for Southern Nigeria by a firm which had As a result, we received previously supplied excellent boats to the Protectorate. serious complaints of defects and want of finish of these boats judged by the standard of previous supplies.

26. On the other hand we recognise that the private merchant, with whom we are naturally compared, does not usually invite competition nor provide for inspection. So far as we are concerned it would of course be a saving of labour not to have in- spection, and, while we have developed a system based on our own experience and ideas, which we follow when the matter is left to us, we are prepared to follow any directions on this point which may be sent to us with an indent.

27. It is of course impossible to guarantee by any process of inspection that all the faults that may exist will be detected; in some cases they are latent, and are not apparent to observation till developed by use; in others where the bulk of the order is great the inspection may practically be a test one, and may not detect a small pro- These portion of exceptional cases; sometimes--but rarely-the Inspector is in fault. cases are not frequent or serious enough to affect the general value of inspection both as a check on the maker and as a means of detecting mistakes or shortcomings, and we believe that although no practicable amount of inspection will ensure the detection of every defect, yet in its absence even the best firms cannot always, when under the stress of competition, be relied on to turn out their best work.

28. When the tenders are received a question may arise whether a higher price should be accepted in consideration of a shorter period being named for execution. Three tenders are in at the time of writing for certain clothing at £350 in 100 days, and at £400 in 35 days; the decision is dependent on whether the articles are wanted A somewhat as soon as possible. In these cases we make enquiries as best we can. similar case is now before us, in which a Colony indented for some caves guttering of a specially heavy type, stating that it was urgently required. We find that the type required will cost £320 and take 18 weeks to make, but we are offered a usual but lighter kind for £220 in 9 weeks, In this case we are resorting to the telegraph. Frequently a large order for clothing or the like requirement is divided, a portion being given to one firm in view of quick delivery being promised, and the rest to another firm in view of a relatively low price.

29. When the orders have been placed a report is, if it appears necessary, sent to the Colony. The usual occasions for doing so are:--

(1.) In cases in which the Colonial authorities ought to have timely notice of the probable date of shipment so that local arrangements for receiving or erect- ing the work may be made in advance.

(2.) When deviations from the indent, either in matters of quantity, design, or cost, have been made (unless, as is frequently done, these were specially reported immediately they were decided on).

(3.) In case of contract involving large expenditure, or when the Colonial Government has specially asked to be informed of the action taken, or when there has been much preliminary correspondence or other reason to suppose. that the Colonial Government would specially desire to be in- formed.

(4.) In all cases where the indent has been prepared in England, either by the

Consulting Engineer, or by a Colonial officer on leave.

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30. The arduous work then ensues of watching the progress of the contracts and endeavouring to keep the contractors up to time. At the beginning of every month all the Inspectors send in detailed reports of the progress of the contracts under their care, and reminders are sent to contractors who are making unsatisfactory progress. The Inspectors also report specially whenever they find from visits to the works that unsatisfactory progress is being made. If the work is not under inspection the con- tractor who fails to deliver on the contract date is called upon for an explanation,

31. When the invoices are received they are examined to sec if they agree with the tender, and whether any penalties for delay have been incurred, and they are not passed for payment until it has been decided whether any deductions should be en- forced. The inspection, packing and freight charges are disposed of at the same time. The details of our arrangements for making payments and rendering accounts we presume need not be gone into; we may say shortly that all contractors' claims are usually paid within a fortnight, and a full account of all sums credited or debited to a Colony in the course of the month is sent out with the vouchers carly in the following month. We attach great value to prompt payment of contractors as helping to obtain their lowest terms, and we have been frequently informed by contractors that they give preference to our orders owing to our prompt system of payment.

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32. Resuming the consideration of the replies from the various Colonies. On the important question of the quality of our articles we find but one opinion in these replies, viz., that they are good and satisfactory. We need hardly say that we receive from time to time complaints as to quality, but we think we are generally able to give a satisfactory explanation. Curious instances occasionally occur in which the defects noticed are due to the treatment the stores have received. A complaint was recently made that the brass buttons supplied for the Police Force "hardly last a year, and do not keep clean for 12 hours"; specimens were enclosed in proof of this. The makers said we can only express our astonishment at the samples sent home; they certainly have not had proper treatment, and must have been cleaned with some very hard and improper substance." We then enquired of the Colonial Government how they were cleaned, and were informed that this was usually done with a mixture of oil and bath brick. It was added "this treatment the Commissioner of Police does not approve of, and proper brass paste has now been requisitioned for." Similarly occasional complaints have been made that clothing, boots and such articles have not worn well; the explanation is sometimes to be found in the fact that they have been exposed to severe climatic influences and hard use.

33. Complaints are sometimes the result of low prices having been named in the indent. Ironmongery and other large classes of stores have a wide range of quality, down to absolute rubbish, and the prices vary accordingly. The lowest grade we never send, but when the prices named by Colonies are such as will cover goods of fair working quality, though below the best in finish and durability, we often guide our selves by the prices. As a rule this proves to be what the Colony intended, but com- parison with our previous supplies made under different conditions sometimes causes complaint. No doubt there are occasional instances of the supply through us of articles which are of indifferent material or make, but on the whole we have good reason to be satisfied so far as quality is concerned with the system on which orders are placed and inspected.

34. We need hardly say that every complaint as to quality is rigidly investigated, and when it is found to be justified, full reparation is exacted. When necessary we obtain independent expert opinion. For instance, having despatched large consign- ments of a certain tool we recently received a complaint that these tools, invoiced at 11d. each, were only of iron, whereas similar tools, all of steel, and capable of lasting three times as long, could be bought locally at a rate representing an invoice cost of 11 d. each. Samples were sent showing ours cut in half, while the local purchase was only slightly marked, and it was stated that being all steel it could not be cut. The firm which had supplied us explained that the local sample had been tried where the steel had been hardened and tempered, while the other, which they maintained was all steel, had been cut above where the hardening and tempering take effect. The War Office were good enough to allow us to refer the whole matter to the Chief Inspector of General Stores at Woolwich, who reported that the sample of our supply was all steel and fully equal to the other. A possible explanation of the complaint was that the local sample was stamped "all steel," and ours was not.

35. From the silence of the replies, with two exceptions, on the subject of the price of our supplies, it may fairly be inferred that in this respect they are as

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