asked the Minister for Defence if he will state the number of auctions of military vehicles and materials held during the four years ending 31st March, 1948, and if he will indicate in respect of each such auction (a) the total purchase moneys received; (b) the total amount in respect of auctioneers' commission at 5 per cent. received from the purchasers; (c) the amount of auctioneers' commission actually paid to the auctioneer, and (d) the percentage of the purchase moneys actually paid to the auctioneer as commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Auctions of Military Equipment.
The number of auctions of military vehicles and materials held during the four years ended on the 31st March, 1948, was 40. The total purchase money received was £236,649 3s. 10d. and the total amount of auctioneers' commission at 5 per cent. paid by the purchasers was £11,832 9s. 6d. Owing to the administrative trouble involved it is regretted that the totals in respect of each auction cannot be supplied. It is not in the public interest to disclose the remaining information requested by the Deputy.
It can be stated, however, that the percentage of commission received by the auctioneers varies in almost every case and was in all cases less than 5 per cent. In this regard it must be borne in mind that my Department bears the cost of advertising, lotting the goods, and the auctioneers' duties consist merely of carrying out the auction.
Will the Minister say if, in fact, in some cases it was less than 1 per cent. that the auctioneers agreed to accept?
I have already told the Deputy that it was less than 5 per cent. If he wants me to go further, I will say that in some cases it was considerably less than 5 per cent.
Less than 1 per cent.
Is the Minister aware that in all cases the cost of advertising is borne by the vendor?
In the case of Army auctions, advertising is borne by the State.