§ MR. NICOL (Argyll)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he can state the cause of the lighthouse authorities' delay in replying to the lightkeepers' petition for an increase of pay and other concessions, seeing that they have had ample time for the consideration of the said petition, since it was presented to them about four months ago, in accordance with a statement made by the President of the Board of Trade in this House?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonI understand that representatives of the three General Lighthouse Authorities are at present engaged in joint conference upon this subject. Some delay has been caused by the necessity of obtaining certain information from abroad.