§ MR. KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN (Kent, Faversham)asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether, in addition to the 25 men who are to be discharged on the 31st instant from the Boiler Making Department in Sheerness Dockyard, a further discharge of 45 men is contemplated; and, whether, since some of the men have worked upwards of 20 years in the Yard, he would consider if this stop could be avoided by giving some of the iron work for the new ships to be constructed to be done in the boiler shops?
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)(who replied) said: Owing to the falling off of the amount of boiler work at Sheerness Dockyard a further discharge of about 45 men will be necessary. Should extra hands be required in the Constructor's Department for work on shipbuilding, consideration will be given to such of the discharged men as are qualified for the 256 work, and are prepared to accept the rates of pay given for work of that class.