§ MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, whether the gardeners employed at Hampton Court work 58½ hours per week at only 21s. per week for these hours; and, whether, seeing that they are often compelled to act as supernumerary park-keepers on Sundays, he can see his way to allow these men to cease work on Saturdays at 1 p.m. instead of being kept till 4 p.m. as at present?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKERS-DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sYes, Sir, the gardeners employed at Hampton Court are paid 21s. a week. I am not prepared at this moment to accept, as being strictly accurate, the number of their working hours stated in the hon. Member's Question. I am considering the point raised by the hon. Member in order to see whether, in view of the nature of the employment of these men, it is possible to arrange that they should cease work at an earlier hour on Saturday afternoons.