§ MR. M. AUSTINI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, in view of the state of the working population of the town of Passage West, County Cork, caused by want of employment (as revealed in the investigations of Major Kirkwood, Local Government Board Inspector), if he will, in accordance with his promise made earlier in this year, have Her Majesty's ships on the Irish Coast requiring repair docked in Haul-bowline Dockyard without delay, and thus relieve the acute distress prevailing among the people?
§ CAPTAIN DONELANAt the same time, I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in order to give employment, and thus relieve to some extent the acute distress which at present afflicts the town of Passage, County Cork, the Ad- 371 miralty will send some vessel in need of repair to Haulbowline Dock?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe Board of Admiralty are not aware that at the present moment any of Her Majesty's ships on the Irish Coast require repair, with the exception of the War-spite. On the 21st ultimo, the Admiral in command at Queenstown was requested to obtain estimates for some additional ventilation to that ship, to be fitted either by the Haulbowline Yard, or by contract. Steps will at once be taken to expedite this work. We are also considering whether any further work can be undertaken either at Haul-bowline or Passage at the present time. As hon. Gentlemen know, the Argus has recently been repaired at Haulbowline in place of the Triumph.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANMay I remind the right hon. Gentleman that the Argus is merely a revenue cutter, and only gives employment to about 25 or 30 hands?
SIR U. KAY-SHUTTLEWORTHThe repairs to the Argus have entailed a good deal more work than that expended in another port on the Triumph.