§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the limit of age for admission at 1419 Chatham, Portsmouth, and Devonport Dockyards; whether a discharged soldier, with a pension and 21 years' service, of good health and character, 39 years old, was in February refused work at Chatham as "too old for consideration;" and whether, in view of the promise of the Government to consider the question of employment for reserve and discharged soldiers, he will undertake that such men are not refused work at Chatham in future?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. FORWOOD,) Lancashire, OrmskirkIn the unavoidable absence of my noble Friend the First Lord I will answer the question. The minimum age for the admission of hired men to Chatham, Portsmouth, and Devonport Dockyards is 21; there is no maximum age. A discharged soldier was refused admission at Chatham in February last as being "too old for consideration," but a further inquiry is being made in his case. Under existing regulations labourers are selected from the whole body of candidates who present themselves, and are not entered unless accustomed to labour and constitutionally capable of performing the duties required of them, and I do not consider it desirable to make any alteration in this practice.