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Minutes of the previous meeting
Minutes of the previous meeting were agreed and signed
1. Consideration of Vice-Chairman’s report No.50 of expenditure authorised under Resolution 3 (1) of the 54th meeting of the Commission, with the resolution that this be accepted
2. Consideration of the detailed report of expenditure from Commission funds for March 1923 as submitted by the Vice Chairman, with the resolution that this be accepted
3. Consideration of a report by the Finance Department re estimates of expenditure of the Commission in France and Belgium, with the resolution that a sum of £52,500 be expended to defray these costs for the quarter ending 30th June 1923
4. Consideration of a report by the Finance Department re estimates of expenditure of the Commission in Mesopotamia, with the resolution that a sum of £1700 be expended to defray these costs for the 6 months ending 30th September 1923
5. Consideration of a report by the Director of Works and a certificate from Sir Frederic Kenyon re the consideration of tenders for constructional work to be carried out in Sutton Road Cemetery, Southend, with the resolution that on the condition that the Land and Legal be satisfied as to the Commission’s title to the land, the tender by Messrs A Burslem and Sons of Tunbridge Wells be accepted at a sum of £362.0s.0d, that a sum of £40 be expended to meet the cost of contingencies and that a sum of £20 be expended to defray the cost of the supply of a bronze sword to be affixed to the War Cross in this cemetery
6. Consideration of a report by the Director of Works re the supply and execution of the models and sculpture work on the Plyons at Etaples Cemetery, with the resolution that the tender by Messrs L & J Soilles Freres, Brussels be accepted at a further sum of Francs 54,000 and that a sum of Francs 6,000 be expended to defray the cost of the supply of the stone from which the two urns to be placed over the gate posts at Etaples Cemetery will be carved and to meet the cost of contingencies
7. Consideration of a report by the Director of Works and resolution 4 of the special meeting of the Finance Committee re the consideration of tenders for bronze work for capping the flags to be placed on the Plyons at Etaples Cemetery, with the resolution that the work be of an artistic nature sufficient to justify the departure from procedure laid down for the placing of contracts by competition among selected firms and that the Director of Works call for tenders from the eight firms detailed in the Director of Works’ said report
8. Consideration of reports by the Director of Works and the Land and Legal Adviser and letters from Sir Maurice FitzMaurice and Sir Reginald Blomfield and resolution 10 of the 47th meeting of the Commission re the consideration of tenders for the construction of the Menin Gate Memorial, with the resolution that the tender by Messrs D G Somerville Ltd be accepted at a sum of Francs 7,087,457 and £3196, that the recommendation by the Land and Legal Adviser to amend the figure from 1,000,000 to 700,000 in line 9, clause 26 of the conditions of contract be approved, that the recommendation that Mr Reid execute the sculpture and bronze work and Mr V Martorell execute the architectural carving be accepted, that the necessary exchange to meet the Commission’s liabilities under the said contract be purchased as and when advised by the Treasury
9. Consideration of a report by the Director of Works, a minute by the Controller and Financial Adviser and resolution 12 of the 52nd meeting of the Commission re the memorial at La-Ferte-sous-Jouarre memorial, with the resolutions that consideration of this question be adjourned until the next meeting
10. Consideration of a report by the Director of Works and resolution 7 of the 52nd meeting of the Finance Committee re the consideration of tenders for the construction of 34 cemeteries, with the resolutions that the tender by Messrs D.G Somerville & Co Ltd be accepted at a sum of Francs 2,832,777, that a sum of Francs 150,000 be expended to defray the cost of enclosure walls not exceeding 3 feet height around seven cemeteries, that a sum of Francs 300,000 be expended to meet the cost of contingencies and that the necessary exchange to cover the Commission’s liabilities under the proposed contract be purchased as and when advised by the Treasury
11. Consideration of a report by the Director of Works and Resolution 10 of the 70th meeting of the Committee re the supply, delivery, execution and competition of bronze name panels for the Portsmouth memorial, with the resolution that the tender by the Birmingham Guild be accepted at a sum of £3356
12. Consideration of reports by the Director of Works and Mr H E Innes of the Chemical Department of the Government of Egypt re the disintegration of war graves by salt erosion in Suez Military Cemetery, with the resolutions that a sum of £E.280 be expended to defray the cost of installing a water supply to the cemetery and that a sum of £E.1600 be expended to defray the cost of the work necessary to free the soil from salt by washing
13. Consideration of a report by the Principal Assistant Secretary re the proposed erection of a central memorial in the British War Cemetery at Tsingtao, with the resolution that consideration of this question be adjourned until the next meeting
14. Consideration of a report by the Finance Department re revision of contracts with Messrs T Hodgkinson and Sons for engraving headstones, with the resolutions that the Land and Legal Adviser draft a contract incorporating the conditions set out in the schedule attached for the approval of the Committee and that the Secretary convey expression of gratitude to Messrs T Hodgkinson and Sons
Present:
Major-General Sir Fabian Ware, K.C.V.O, K.B.E, C.B, C.M.G (Chairman)
Henry Maddocks, Esqre, K.C, M.P
Vice-Admiral Sir Morgan Singer, K.C.V.O, C.B
F M Morris, Esqre (Representing the Treasury)
Lieutenant Colonel H Ellissen, C.B.E (Secretary)
Also Present:
Lieutenant Colonel F R Durham, O.B.E, M.C (Director of Works)
Lieutenant Colonel C.P Oswald, O.B.E (Deputy Financial Adviser)
Lieutenant Colonel H.F Robinson (Deputy Director of Works) |