§ MR.STONEsaid, he would beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether the following statement is true:
A.B., a labourer in Deptford Dockyard, applied for superannuation on the reduction of that establishment, having the means of earning a livelihood in the town of Deptford. He was refused superannuation on the ground that he was too young and healthy, and was sent to Portsmouth, where he has been for only twelve months. He has now been ordered for discharge, though he has a wife and seven children; and, on asking the reason, he was told by the clerk in the cashier's office—' You are a Liberal, and voted for Gladstone; it serves you right?'
§ MR.CHILDERSSir, my hon. Friend asks me whether it is true that A.B., a Liberal dockyardman, who had been removed from Deptford to Portsmouth, was, when discharged, told by a Conservative clerk in the cashier's office that it served him right for voting for my right hon. Friend at the head of the Government, who represents the borough of which Deptford forms a part. I suppose that Conservative clerks are not always well instructed in modern history; and it is, I dare say, true that this particular gentleman may have thought that Deptford Dockyard was closed by order of the present Government; whereas, the House knows that, in fact, the late Government decided its fate. But I suppose that the purpose of my hon. Friend's Question is to know whether, in our opinion, political considerations influence the discharge of workmen, and I am happy to be able to say that, although the present head of the dockyard at Portsmouth, who was appointed by myself last year, may possibly be a Conservative, I am confident that no one could act with more thorough impartiality in these matters, and I feel sure that there is no foundation for any suggestion to the contrary.
§ MR.STONEsaid, the right hon. Gentleman had not answered the question as to the truth of the statement contained in the Question.
§ MR.CHILDERSI do not know who A.B. may be; but no one is entitled to superannuation under a certain number of years' service, and I can only suppose that this was the case with him. I have heard of no complaint that where due it has been refused.