CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12] — Page 224

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Greater force, for during the nearly thirty years that the

Crown Agents have dealt with the Society of Apothecaries

since the above letter was received, the quality of the

drugs supplied has been universally admitted to be above

reproach. It has moreover not been shown by a definite

detailed comparison of indents priced by the Society of

Apothecaries and by other firms that any material saving

would have been adopted by abandoning the established prac-

tice. Such comparisons as that given in the Government

Analysts letter of 30th October 1894 (attached to Governor's

despatch No 240 of 2nd November 1894) are of little value,

as there is nothing to show how the suns were arrived at,

the dates of price lists quoted from, and so on.

No doubt if, as suggested, we invited competitive

tenders, we should get a reduction of prices and at first

probably good articles. Firms would supply at a loss in

order to establish a footing. But in the long run the

quality would be certain to deteriorate.

As regards paragraph 4 of the Government Analyst's

letter, it may be said that no firm or repute would supply

if they had to wait payment till their goods had been examin-

ed by the Analyst in Hong Kong and were to be liable to

rejection at his hands. Such an analysis as would be

necessary with drugs supplied under competition is a mattor

of time, and great delays must take place before payment

could be made. It is difficult to say what could be dono

when drugs were found inferior and condemned; a hasty re-

course to the local market at enhanced prices, and a recom-

mendation that the contract should be cancelled and some-

one else tried would be the immediate results. In fact

the more the proposition is examined the more its objections

3.

develope