§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it has been brought to his notice that considerable hardship is entailed upon a number of Government employees at Deptford Victualling Yard, owing to their being compelled to work in the South West India. Dock, to which the Naval Stores Department is being transferred, in the vicinity of which they are unable to obtain living accommodation, and are consequently put to an average weekly expenditure of about 2s. for travelling expenses out of their scanty wage of 20s. per week; whether he is aware that this hardship is aggravated in the eyes of the men by the fact that they work alongside of dockers who receive wages at the rate of 6d. per hour; and whether he will take steps to deal with this undesirable state of things?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. A. CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcester-1239 shire, E. There is no reason to anticipate that these men will have any difficulty in finding houses near their work, but the superintendent at Deptford was informed early last month that applications for the re-payment of additional expenses would be favourably considered if submitted through the Naval Storekeeper.