§ MR. SWIFT MACNEILL (Donegal, S.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade, having regard to the nature of the Report furnished at the close of the inquiry into the condition of the Mercantile Marine Fund, if he can state what steps are in contemplation for the redress of the grievances of the lighthouse keepers of the United Kingdom; and whether, since petitions have been repeatedly forwarded by English and Scotch lighthouse keepers to their respective Boards, and the Irish petition has remained for two years unacknowledged, he will promise to grant a Commission of some kind to inquire into these grievances and to examine witnesses from each branch of the service?
§ MR. RITCHIEThe Board of Trade have quite recently received applications from the Trinity House and the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses for improvement in the present pay and the prospective pensions of lightkeepers in their service. These applications are both under consideration. No application has as yet been received from the Commissioners of Irish Lights with regard to the same matter. If any is received it will be duly considered, but the Board of Trade have no power to act without such application.
§ GENERAL LAURIE (Pembroke and Haverfordwest)asked when it was likely that action would be taken in 1065 the direction of dealing with the lighthouse keepers?
§ MR. RITCHIEI have stated that the applications have only quite recently been received. There will he no delay in considering them.