§ MR. KEARLEYI beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the case of Thomas Edmonds, established driller, with 15 years' good character, working in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Keyham, who for a supposed breach of the Dockyard Regulations was on the 14th September last, reduced from the position of a skilled labourer at 21s. per week to that of an ordinary labourer at 17s. 6d. per week; whether the local officials are empowered to so punish a man when his skill is not imputed; and whether he will order his re-instatement to his previous post and. position?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe offence committed by Edmonds was, under the Regulations which he signed on entry into the Dockyard, punishable by discharge from the Service. The local officers, acting within their powers, awarded the more lenient punishment mentioned by my hon. Friend. As Edmonds was told at the time, his case will be re-considered at the end a six months from the time of the offence,—namely, 14th September last. I may add that Edmonds had held the position of established skilled labourer from the 4th August only.