asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health whether he is aware that the Combined Purchasing Section of his Department have accepted tenders for toilet soap, threequarter ounce tablets, at 10/- per gross, when soap of equal quality was offered at 5/3 per gross tablets; that they have accepted tenders for various other items of soap and soap powders set out on tender form B, No. 10 (soaps and soap powders), at prices from 10 per cent. to 80 per cent. above those quoted for products of equal quality; and also that they have accepted tenders for candles, as set out on form B, No. 29 (candles), at prices substantially in excess of those paid by the Post Office Contracts division for goods of exactly the same quality and description; and if he will state what consideration influenced the acceptance of these tenders and the rejection of lower ones wherever such lower tenders were submitted by a Dublin soap firm.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Soap Prices.
Official contractors for the supply of commodities to local bodies are appointed by the Minister on the advice of a Local Supplies Advisory Committee, who in making their recommendations take into consideration the standard of commodities to be supplied by persons applying to be appointed official contractors, and the previous record of persons as official contractors in supplying commodities of standard quality. The committee in making their recommendations attach great importance to maintaining a high standard of quality of commodities at competitive prices, and throughout each year a system of testing of samples of commodities supplied to local bodies is carried out by the Department. The particulars stated in the first and second parts of the question are substantially correct as regards the amounts of the quotations mentioned, but not in respect of commodities of equal quality. The reply to the third part of the question is in the negative.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he aware that in the advertisement for these supplies, one of the commodities for which quotations were sought is described as a cleansing powder, O.K., O.K. being the trade name of Messrs. Dixon, soap manufacturers of the City of Dublin? For that commodity Messrs. Dixon, whose trade name is used in the advertisement, quoted 11/6 and Messrs. McCormack quoted 12/9. Messrs. McCormack's quotation was accepted although the people who originated the product quoted 1/3 below the persons who were copying, and admittedly copying, this product. Is he aware that Messrs. Dixon, who have been over 50 years honourably employed in the soap and chandlery business in this city and bear a reputation second to none in that business, tendered for soap at 5/3 per gross while Messrs. McCormack—who are an excellent firm, I have no doubt, but who are in business for only two years in the city —were awarded the contract at 10/- per gross? In face of these figures, surely the Minister will agree with me that a case for special inquiry exists? All I ask is that he will call before him the persons responsible for tendering this advice and require them to account to him for the advice they have tendered.
Mr. Boland
As I have said in the reply, the matter that has to be taken into consideration is the quality of the goods. I do not want to decide as between the merits of the firms but I have here a list of 20 complaints from different bodies about commodities supplied. It was on these complaints and on inquiries held, that the decision to give the contract was reached.
May I draw the Minister's attention to the fact in connection with this firm's tender for candles, that the General Post Office Contracts Department have bought their candles from this firm at the price tendered to the Central Purchasing Authority? Nevertheless, the Central Purchasing Authority on being offered wax candles of 25 per cent. at 12/- per dozen lbs. by Messrs. Dixon gave the contract at 15/- per dozen lbs. to Messrs. Rathborne. The General Post Office authorities have, as I have stated, bought 25 per cent. wax candles from Messrs. Dixon at the price tendered to the Central Purchasing Authority and have declared that they are satisfied with the quality and propose to go on buying from them. Surely here is something which requires investigation. May I ask the Minister if he is aware that as recently as the 5th of this month the General Post Office bought wax candles from the firm of Dixon and Company and, in the light of these facts, will he cause special inquiry to be made?
Mr. Boland
I will.