MR. J. COWENasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If a Petition has been received from the Engineers in the Dockyard at Malta, asking that the hours they work, in consequence of the heat of the climate, should be reduced from ten to nine hours per day; if nine hours is not the length for a day's work for Engineers in the Dockyards of this Country; and if he could state whether the demand of the Malta Engineers will be complied with?
§ MR. A. F. EGERTON,in reply, said, it was true that the Petition referred to by the hon. Member had been received. It was also true that nine hours was the length of a day's work for engineers in the home dockyards. It had been decided to offer the Malta engineers a reduction in the hours of work coupled with a corresponding reduction of pay. This was the course adopted in the case of the home dockyards.