CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 410

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ALL COMMUNICATIONS

TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE

CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES,

THE ABOVE REFERENCE AND THE

DATE OF THIS LETTER BEING QUOTED.

TELEGRAME "CROWN, LONDON," TELEPHONE 7730 VICTORIA.

CIRCULAR

sir,

4, MILLBANK,

96€

396

WESTMINSTER,

LONDON, S.W.1.

28th January, 1919.

I have the honour to invite your attention to the question of the supply of crockery for Government House.

2. Many years ago certain standarde were set up, but with the passage of time these have largely fallen into disuse. Far a number of different patterns were supplied and we were on the Eefore the point of bringing this matter to your notice, with the object of securing some uniformity of practice, when the war supervened and the work was brought to a standstill. definite steps to make a contract could be taken with advantage

It is not li.ely that any until 1920, owing to the very high prices of materials and the present disorganisation caused by the want of labour. preliminary to any such scheme, it is necessary to ascertain the views of the Colonial Governments and to put before you the con- aiderations in its favour, as far as they can be judged from our point of view.

But, s a

3. Indents for this crockery are by their nature usually for replacements to match the services in present use. It has been

a matter of difficulty for us in several instances to ascertain what the existing pattern is. Having done so, it has generally been possible to match at any rate the more modern designs. advised that the war has necessitated on the part of china manu- We are facturers a reconsideration of the more costly elements in their organisation and this question of matching, bound up as it is with a great variety of patterna, is likely to be much more difficult than it has been. In fact, in the case of the older designs,

it may become impossible, The demand of all the Colonies, if confined to one pattern, would overcome the difficulty of matching, as it would be aufficient to secure a constant supply of replace- mente. The tendency would be to reduce the prices if there was only one pattern. Further, it could be arranged that a stock @ufficient to meet emergency demands could be maintained. china has to be specially made and badged, the time required to execute an order runs into months.

If

4. It is probable that the idea of a standard will comend itself to you in principle, but the difficulty is to set up such a standard as will be acceptable to the present tenants of Government House. In view of this ad. itted obstacle, we have tentatively selected a pattern ourselves, and this has been accepted as suitable by the Governments of East Africa, Trinidad and Gibraltar, to which not inconsiderable supplies have been sent. The dinner service ie of semi-porcelain and the dessert, tea and breakfast services of china. They are white decorated in a simple fashion with narrow blue and gold bands and badged with the Imperial Cypher and the words "Government House" in gold.

The pre-war prices for a full service for 12 people proked and

delivered