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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1082.PDF
AUGUST 14, 1019 20. The evidence of this witness on these points was sent to the Assistant Director of-Army Contracts to ask him if he had any opinion to express on it. He replied that he would like to inform the Committee that his state ment as to Major Cockburu's refusal to take other than yarn dyed cloth, like the sample provided by the Manchester firm, was based on the following note which appeared in official papers, dated May 23, 1918 :— " Spoke Major Cockburn, Air Board, who absolutely refuses to accept gabardine for this service, except as specified in Minute 1." He further said that he could only repeat that the Contracts Department, so far as he was aware, had no knowledge that any sample was made by the firm of Kenneth Durward, Ltd. il. Miss Douglas Pennant stated that the removal of Miss O'Sullivan from the work of inspection was done behind her back. That she had an interview with Colonel Bersey and Colonel Latimer upon the subject, and came to an agreement that Miss O'Sullivan should continue the inspection with a representative of Colonel Latimer's. A few days later, Colonel Bersey came into her room and asked her to sign a file at once ; she asked to look at it before signing and found that it was an absolute reversal of the arrangement that had been made. That she then returned the file to Colonel Bersey and he wrote a minute in which he admitted that it was not on the lines as previously agreed. The Sub-Committee have examined the file and find that it confirms Miss Douglas Pennant's statement. Colonel Latimer, having previously stated that he had transferred the inspection part of Miss O'Sullivan's duties to someone else with the concur rence of Miss Douglas Pennant, was recalled. The statement that he had made was read to him, and he was asked if he still adhered to it. He replied, " Oh, absolutely." The file, which was signed by Colonel Bersey, was then shown him. The witness endeavoured to explain his answer, but the state ments he made were utterly at variance with the file, and the Committee regret that they can attach no credence to them. Miss Douglas Pennant having stated that Colonel IJersey was not anxious to assist her in discovering any irregularities, and that he did not want troublesome questions brought up, he was requested to attend before the Sub-Committee. He, however, did not put in an appearance, nor did he take any notice of the Sub-Committee's request. Time did not permit of steps being taken to compel his attendance. 22. Complaints were also made by Miss O'Sullivau, Captain Cherry and Lieut. G. Earl, officers in the W.R.A.F. Clothing Department, that they could not get copies of the contracts from 0.6 in which department Major Cock- burn was employed, and of which Colonel Latimer was the head. 23. Miss O'Sullivan also said, in a statement put in, that the work of inspection which was being done by 40 men could be done by 12 women. 24. Your Committee examined Colonel Latimer, and being questioned on this point he replied as follows :— •" Q. Did you ever use 40 men from the Labour Battalion to inspect cloth ing ? -A. No, I do not think we ever did, because we selected men very carefully from Blandford, men of low category. We might have had men from the Labour Battalion for humping purposes, handling bales of clothing, and that sort of thing, but not for inspection. " Q. Why did you use men instead of women to inspect women's clothing ? —-A. You ask me a question I cannot answer. We used any labour that was available, men or women, or children even. " Q. Do men know much about women's clothing ?—A. I suppose the majority of the stuff is made by men,and,considering that is so, they should do. " Q. Did Miss O'Sullivan inform you that she thought 12 women could do this inspection, whereas you required 40 men ?—A. Miss O'SulUvan made very many wild statements, and I believe that is one among them. I can not recollect for certain. CJ. You think it is one ?—A. Very probably.; " Q. Why was it a wild statement?—A. Because she could not possibly have done it. Q. Did you ever give her a chance ?—A. No." 25. He also stated that copies of the contracts were alway available for all persons authorised to have them. When shown files in which requests for copies of the contracts had been made and ignored in answers signed by himself, he said : — " A. Well, no complaint was ever made to me as the head of that branch that they could never obtain contracts or anything they required. " I was in constant touch with the Commandant of the W.R.A.F., and I specially arranged that she should be in direct touch. If there was anything wrong, there was no reason why they should lie down under it. They do not seem to have taken much trouble to get that. " Q. But surely, if they ask for them, it is your duty to supply them ? What were you there for except to deal with those things that came to your notice ? —-A. I was there to take action against anv subordinate who failed in his duty. " Q. Were you not there to see that your subordinates did their duty ? —A. Yes, but not to dry-nurse them and to go round and follow them, and guide their hands and blot everything they wrote." 20. The Sub-Committee are of opinion that this witness's evidence was also unsatisfactory. Asked what useful functions his Department served, beyond being a " post office," he replied "very little." 27. Mr. John De Lange, confidential secretary to Messrs. Cohen & Wilks, attended and gave evidence. He stated that 6 ins. less cloth was used in the coats and skirts and 6 ins. more in the overcoats, and that this arrangement was approved by Mr. Hutchinson. Asked as to Miss O'Sullivan's statement as to the saving in cloth effected by cutting on the bias, he said he was not" a practical man and could not answer. He also stated that to the best of his recollection Messrs. Cohen & Wilks had no cloth of this description on hand at the time the tender was given them. 28. The Sub-Committee examined Major-General Sir H. Trenchard (Chief of the Air Staff), and are of opinion that he is doing all that is possible to cut down expenditure while having due regard to the efficiency of his Depart ment. 29. Your Committee are of opinion that a very unsatisfactory state of affairs has been revealed. In their opinion, when cases of negligence or of fraud have been discovered, action should be taken against the offenders, regardless of whether they are officials of the Department or not. They regret very much that the Lord Advocate should have taken up the position that he did. 30. In the case of Miss O'Sullivan, it would appear that she demanded an enquiry into the alleged irregularities as long ago as March last. An enquiry- was not commenced until June, and then was not completed, Miss O'Sullivan refusing to sign the notes of her evidence. She was removed from the position of Clothing Controller, was given leave and informed that she would be demobilised, though this latter intention does not appear to have been carried out. 31. The Sub-Committee were informed by General Seely in a letter dated July 25, 1919, that the Secretary of State on his advice had decided to hold an inquiry into the irregularities alleged by Miss O'Sullivan. FINANCE DEPARTMENT. 32. The Sub-Committee examined the Assistant Financial Secretary, and are of opinion that the Finance Department is very satisfactorily conducted, but that the position of the Assistant Financial Secretary should be greatly strengthened in order that Finance may exercise its proper influence. Jt is remarkable for instance that Finance is not represented on the Committee appointed by the Secretary of State to investigate and report on the changes and reduction of the staff, and the redistribution of duties among the Depart ments necessitated by the reorganisation of the Air Ministry. Wherever financial consent is necessary before a proposal can be carried into effect the Assistant Financial Secretary is entitled to require full justification of the course proposed as being the most practicable and economical method oi obtaining the required result. The Sub-Committee found that this has not always been the case in the Air Ministry. In particular they have observed a tendency in the Secretariat to usurp functions which belong properly to the finance Department. As the responsibility rests ultimately with the accounting officer and his staff, such tendencies cannot but be prejudicial to the smooth working of the service. MOTOR VEHICLES. 33, The Department have informed the Sub-Committee that the statement put in by them which appeared in our first Report, regarding the expenditure at Kennington Garage on motor cars, should have included the expenditure at the Belvedere Road Garage, where the heavy motor lorries are kept. I hey have put in a fresh statement showing the cost for the year ending March 31, 1919, as nearly as can at present be ascertained. Letter and state ment below. " Air Ministry, August 4, 1919. Sir,—Referring to your letter of the 30th ultimo, addressed to the Secre tary, Air Ministry,on the subject of the cost of touring cars, I have the honour to request you to explain to the Select Committee on National Expenditure, that it has been found impossible, in the short time available, to prepare a complete statement, as required by your Committee, of the sum spent at Kenmngton and Belvedere Road from April 1, 1918, to April 1, 1919. " The difficulty relates to the repairs and renewals, which have involved numerous issues of spare parts and materials of some 2,000 different kinds. The quantities of these items could be arrived at by scrutiny of all the issue vouchers, but as the articles are supplied by the Ministry of Munitions, it is necessary to rely on that Department for the prices, and I understand that the pricing can only be done by reference to the contracts, at a con siderable cost of time and labour. " I regret, therefore, that the cost of spare parts and material cannot be stated, with the exception of the cost of tyres, which has been ascertained. Every effort has been made to complete the return in all other respects, and I submit, for the information of your Committee, the enclosed Statement (A) of the cost of the Motor Transport Section at Kennington and Belvedere Road. The rates and taxes in Statement (A) include £1,001 for electricity, of ivhich it is stated that at least 50 per cent, was used in connection with experi mental work. The wages in Statement (A) include those of drivers, car penters, labourers and other personnel at the Convoy and Despatch Section, Covent Garden, a unit controlled from Kennington, which deals with urgent issues to France. The total for the wages of this unit is stated to be £3,737. "To arrive at the correct total for Motor Transport at Kennington and Belvedere Road a deduction should be made of £3,737 + £500 = £4,237. " It has not been possible, in the time, to collect the figure for the main tenance and repair of buildings and plant. " The difficulty of obtaining accurate figures has been much enhanced by the fact that the Kennington unit is in course of removal to Wormwood Scrubs. " I beg also to forward Statement (B) showing the numbers and descrip tion of vehicles in April, 1918, and in March, 1919, and the numbers not in regular use. Side-cars are regarded as part of the motor cycles. " Subject to the above remarks, I certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the Statement (A) and IB) are correct. "W. A. BLANO, Assistant Financial Secretary. A.—Statement of Expenditure in Respect of the M.T. Section at Kennington and Belvedere Road for the Year April 1, 1918, to 31 March, 1919. Rent . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,300 Rates and taxes .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,on Pay and allowances of officers . . . . . . . . 2,070 Pay of other ranks R.A.F. 1 Pay of W.R.A.F. .. \ Wages of civilians . . J Clothing and allowances of other ranks R.A.F. and of W.R.A.F 14,048 Oil, wick and carbide , . . . . . . . . . . . 828 Tyres 5,409 Petrol .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,301 36,190 Deduct.— Electricity used for experimental work . . £500 Wages of employees at Coveut Garden .. £3,73" £75,i?; 4,237 £70,920 Nothing is included in this Statement on account of spare parts (other than tyres) or materials used for repairs and renewals of vehicles; main tenance and repair of buildings and plant; or depreciation of vehicles. B.—Schedule of Vehicles on Charge of the Motor Transport Section at Kcr. 1: inglo n and Belvedere Road. April, 1918. March, 1919. Crossley heavy tenders. . .. . . . . 5 8 Crossley light tenders .. .. .. .. 5 14 Ford vans or tenders .. .. .. .. 4 7 Leyland float lorries .. . . . . . . 5 8 Leyland platform lorries ...... — 1 Crossley touring cars .. .. 27 19 Ford touring cars .. .. .. 13 Rolls-Royce touring cars ...... 1 2 Daimler touring cars . . . . . 1 1 Rolls-Royce limousine .. . . . . . . I I Rolls-Royce landaulettes ...... 1 4 Crossley landaulettes .. .. .. .. 23 2 7 Ford landaulettes .. .. .. .. 1 6 Motor cycles .. .. .. .. 25 43 Ambulances (motor) .. .. .. .. 2' 3 Stellite two-seater cars ...... 1 — Crossley limousine .. . . .. — 6 P. and A. heavy tenders ...... — 9 P. and A. floats .. . . . . . . — 2 Tractors and trailers .. .. .. .. — Lancia touring car .. .. .. — 1 115 193 Totals Motor cars out of use .. .. .. 4 Motor cycles out of use Totals .. .. . . . . .. 6 30 For the purpose of this statement side-cars are regarded as part of the motor cycles. 25 5 IO84
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