§ MR. STEADMANI beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works if he can state when the promised reforms in regard to the hours of duty (night and 794 Sunday) performed by the employés of the Lighting and Ventilating Department at the Houses of Parliament will take effect; and whether he will give a favourable consideration to the case of the labourers and assistants in the Lighting and Ventilating Department whose wages are lower than those received by Office of Works employés engaged in other Departments in the building?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. AKBRS DOUGLAS,) Kent, St. Augustine'sThe employment of additional men is provided for in the Estimates for the ensuing financial year, and will take effect from the 1st of April next. This will enable some reductions to be made in the hours of duty. I would remind the honourable Member of the specially favourable conditions attached to employment in this branch, which I explained in my answer to him on the 11th of June last. These advantages are so substantial, as compared with those of other employés, that I am not prepared to admit that any well-founded grievance as to rates of pay exists. I will, however, give the matter further consideration.