§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the fact that, exclusive of the 400 men recently discharged from the Devonport Dockyard, some 25 fitters were on the 16th March last noticed to leave; whether shortly previous to their being paid off, they received orders to go to the chief engineer's office, and were then informed that if they would remain at lower wages the said notices would be cancelled; whether the reduction in each case amounted to 2s. per week; how many men in all were asked to remain at such lower wages, and how many accepted the same; whether the same or a similar offer was made to the boiler assistants, and whether it was accepted, and by how many; whether in the above cases the men, or some of them., had been working for periods from 2 to 14 years, and when discharged received certificates of good conduct, stating that they had been discharged in consequence of reduction of hands; whether about six weeks ago, some 12 fitters were entered at 5s. or thereabouts per week; how many of these are still retained, and at what wages; whether his attention has been called to a letter in the Western Daily Mercury of the 6th instant, stating, amongst other things, that—
Some of the men entered and retained in the joiner's shop knew so little of joiner's work that they failed to pass the usual test of making a sash or a drawer, neither did they possess any joiner's tools, but they received joiner's pay, 27s. per week, and are there now, while I and others were discharged after nine years' service with a certificate marked a very good character and a very good workman.Whether, in view of these and similar statements, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the justice of these complaints; and whether, if he is unable to grant such inquiry, he will consent to receive and consider any such cases on their merits?
§ LORD GEORGE HAMILTONIn reply to the 10 questions put by the hon. Member, my answer is:—No. 1. Yes, but the number is 15 not 25. No. 2. Yes, as far as concerns 3 out of the 15. No. 3. Yes. Nos. 4 to 5. Seven asked, three accepted; two of these were assistant boiler makers. No. 6. Yes. No. 7. Yes; seven of these are retained as their ability is superior to those discharged. Nos. 8, 9, 10. I decline to pay any serious attention to ex parte and anonymous statements, such as have appeared in the paper referred to, and which are utilized for political purposes, in order to stop dockyard officials from performing their duty in reforming and improving the establishments under them.
§ MR. CONYBEAREI beg to pay my tribute of thanks to the noble Lord for his answer, but to give the Government Notice that I shall, on an early day, be prepared to produce letters signed by individuals.