§ * SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I bog to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office, what is the present extent of overtime in the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich, and how far inroads are being made upon the principle of an eight-hour day by resort to overtime; whether in the week ending 25th April, a considerable number of men in one department were, discharged, although others in the same department were working until 9 p.m.; whether work is being carried on on Saturdays until 6 p.m., instead of 1 p.m.; and, what number of men are affected by the present working of overtime?
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. POWELL-WILLIAMS,) Birmingham, S.In connection with the supply of small-arms ammunition, and with the work of quickly completing the conversion of the Horse and Field Artillery, it has been found necessary to employ a considerable number of men on overtime, but the necessity will shortly cease, and the ordinary hours of working will then be resumed. In the week ending 25th April twelve painters were discharged because the work for which they had been specially engaged had been completed; but beyond this there was nothing unusual in the number of discharges during that week.