§ COLONEL HUGHES—HALLETT (Rochester)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, If he will take into consideration the case of the plumbers of the Royal Navy with a view to increasing their pay, raising their position, and granting them the privilege of wearing a uniform similar to that worn by other grades of mechanics in the Royal Navy?
§ THE SECRETARY (Mr. HIBBERT) (Oldham)There is no present intention of reconsidering the position of plumbers in the Navy. So far as pay is concerned, we have no difficulty in getting the men we require at the present rates; and with regard to uniform, plumbers are in precisely the same position as armourers, blacksmiths, coopers, and others. Special uniforms are restricted, among artificers, to chief petty officers and skilled carpenters' mates and shipwrights. No concession could be made in the case of plumbers without giving rise to other claims, and it is considered very desirable to prevent this.