Page:UK Parliamentary White Paper Cmd 1704.pdf/4



any contracts of the kind are entered into the individual or firm concerned should be instructed to confer with the Chief Inspector of Explosives with a view to ascertain if the requirements of the above-named Act can be observed,

"I am, Sir,

"Your obedient Servant,

(Signed)"."

The evidence shows that in January, 1922, Major Bapty bought from Captain Rogers, free-on-rail, about 45,000,000 rounds of .22 miniature rifle ammunition, as scrap for breaking down.

During the negotiations Captain Rogers asked Major Bapty if he were going to do the work himself, because, if so, it would be necessary to have suitable and duly licensed premises. Major Bapty replied that Messrs. S. W. Brice & Co., who held a licence from the Home Office, were carrying out experiments on his behalf.

Major Bapty, however, sold the whole of the .22 ammunition to the Premier Aluminium Casting Company, Ltd., of Hay Mills, Birmingham. The negotiations for this contract were between Major Bapty and Mr. Andrews. When the contract was made, Mr. Andrews ordered the ammunition to be sent to L. W. Knowles, c/o G. H. Yates & Co., Ltd., Groveland Road, Tipton. In a letter dated 26th January, 1922, from the Premier Aluminium Casting Company, Ltd., to Major Bapty, the Tipton Works are described as "our" works. Major Bapty informed Captain Rogers that he had sold the .22 ammunition to the last-mentioned company and Captain Rogers said that the company was known to his department officially and that they were a satisfactory company to carry out the work of breaking down.

On or about 26th January, 1922, the necessary documents were issued to Major Bapty by the Disposals Board authorising him to take delivery of the ammunition he had bought, and he thereupon gave the address at Tipton as hereinbefore stated.

Major Bapty considered that the Tipton Works were part of the Premier Aluminium Casting Company, Ltd., but this is not so. The fact is that this company sold the .22 ammunition to Knowles without mentioning the matter to anyone. He (Knowles) was to break it down and thereafter share the profits resulting therefrom with the said company.

The evidence also shows that when in 1921 the Premier Aluminium Casting Company, Ltd., wished to break down ammunition, two directors, the said Mr. Andrews and Mr. Dawkins, called at the Explosives Department of the Home Office and, after discussion, they received detailed instructions as to the precautions necessary to be adopted before they began breaking down ammunition. These were duly carried out and thereafter the said company began to break down .303 ammunition.

It is obvious, therefore, that when the directors of the company sold to Knowles, they were aware of the precautions which the Home Office required to be taken before the breaking down of ammunition could safely be commenced.