§ CAPTAIN PRICEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether he is aware that his predecessor in Office, on the 28th June 1880, whilst deprecating any discussion of dockyard grievances in the House of Commons, promised that the Board of Admiralty would themselves hear what the various classes of workmen had to say on the occasion of their annual visit to the dockyards; whether the Admiralty had fulfilled, or intended to fulfil, that promise; whether, on that occasion, as on all subsequent visits, the Admiralty peremptorily refused to hear what the representatives of the various classes had to say; and, is this policy to be continued?
§ MR. CAMPBELL - BANNERMANSir, it is considered that there would be some inconvenience if it were accepted as a rule that the Board of Admiralty, on the occasion of their annual formal visit to the Dockyards, should receive deputations from the various classes of workmen. But, no doubt, in some instances, a personal statement of facts is desirable, in order that the Board may fully appreciate the case submitted to them; and there is no wish to exclude the men from this advantage. I have promised to the House that in the course of the Recess I would, together with my hon. Colleague, examine into the representations contained in the Memorials which have been forwarded in the usual way through the Superintendents; and we will, if we find it necessary, take any opportunity in our power of ascertaining personally the views of the workmen.