§ CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade will he explain why the light-keepers of Great Britain and Ireland have received no reply to the petition for an increase of salary presented by them in November last; and can he state when a reply may be expected?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE, Croydon)As stated in my reply to the honourable Member for Argylleshire on February 17th, the three general lighthouse authorities have been conferring together upon the question of increased salaries to lighthouse-keepers. I have recently received applications on the subject from the three lighthouse authorities, the last one having only reached me on Saturday. Immediate consideration will be given to these applications.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIs it not a fact that lighthouse-keepers of Great Britain and Ireland are paid on a lower scale than in other countries?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThat is totally apart from the Question. I have no knowledge of what is paid in other countries.