§ MR. SEXTONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether Henry Carter, a member of the Coast Brigade, stationed at Sandycove Tower, near Dalkey, county Dublin, is in the habit of doing gardening and other work for gentlemen resident in the neighbourhood; whether, for this purpose, he leaves the Tower at nine or ten o'clock in the morning, and does not return until five or six in the evening; whether members of the Coastguard Service, stationed at Dalkey, do whitewashing, painting, &c. for persons who may employ them, and take contracts for doing such work; and, whether it is compatible, with the regulations of the service, that members of the Coast Brigade or Coastguard should occupy their time in working for private employers, and thereby interfere with the regular market for civil industry and trade?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANSir, Sandycove Tower is in charge of a detachment of the Coast Brigade, Royal Artillery, and any Question concerning the conduct of the men stationed there will, no doubt, be answered by the noble Marquess the Secretary of State for War. As regards the Coastguardsmen at Dalkey, careful local inquiry has been made in consequence of the hon. Member's Question. The result is that nothing can be heard of at all corresponding to the allegations in question, except that quite recently the men have in their own time lent a hand to prepare for the local Regatta, in helping to rig and paint a flagstaff, and also the band-stand. Both of these items of work have been done by request, not as a bargain, nor with any understanding as to payment. I can find no trace of any whitewashing.