Kynoch product reputation in 1916 ?

[charlie962]

In an officer's letter from Etaples in Oct 1916 he refers to problems with Kynoch products:

"By the way the name of Kynoch absolutely stinks here.People here will not use detonators or cartridges in fact anything turned out by this firm. This was the firm that Chamberlain was connected with. All instructors... say use no 'K' stuff if you can possibly avoid it."

I believe the 'Chamberlain' reference is to a libel case in 1901 brought by Arthur, younger brother of Joseph Chamberlain (Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time) against the Star newspaper. Arthur was Chairman of Kynoch's which gained some important contracts at the time of the Boer War. Arthur won, with £200 damages.

What was the problem, if any, with their products in 1916 ?