§ MR. MICHAEL AUSTIN (Limerick, W.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether 13,000 pounds weight of chocolate, manufactured at Deptford victualling yard, has been condemned at Hong Kong contrary to the opinion of the superintendent of Deptford victualling yard, who considered that the chocolate ought not to have been condemned; and whether any portion of the chocolate in question was manufactured at Deptford by labourers employed at a wage of less than £1 per week?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. E. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.The chocolate was condemned and sold at Hong Kong; a sample was sent home which, on examination at Deptford, was considered to be fit for issue. Steps have been taken by the Admiralty to prevent a recurrence of such loss; one man employed in the Chocolate Mill, an established labourer, received less than £1 per week (i.e. 19s.).