§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he is aware that the writers employed in his Department do not receive the weekly wages, due to them every Friday, until late on the following Saturday afternoon; and, whether he can see his way to consult the convenience of the men by allowing them, as is the practice in most of the other Departments, to receive their wages either on the evening of the day on which they become due, or at latest on the following morning?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.), in reply, said, that no complaint had been received by him from the writers or any other officials connected with the Board of Trade on this subject. He had received a communication from all the writers in the Board of Trade Office to the effect that they observed with surprise that Mr. Lawson would ask a Question with reference to the payment of the writers attached to the Office, and much regretted that such a Question should be raised. They desired to disclaim any knowledge of the Question, and to state that no such inconvenience had been occasioned to them by reason of the existing practice.