§ MR. REMNANT (Finsbury, Holborn)To ask the Secretary of State for War, in reference to the men recently discharged from Woolwich Arsenal, whether he is aware that there are numerous openings for respectable men of this description in Canada, and that many of these men are anxious to settle there; is he aware that though single men can be placed in employment there even during the winter it is not expedient for men with families to leave until March; that in consequence many of these men and their families are likely to suffer considerable privation until March arrives; can he in any way help them to employment to tide them over the winter; and will he, if any future discharges are necessary, consider the advisability of making the discharges in the spring.
§ MR. HALDANEI can only say, as I have said before, that I will do my best, 1040 as far as is consistent with my duty to the public generally, to prevent discharges at the Arsenal, but I cannot undertake to keep men beyond the time when there is work on which to employ them.
§ MR. REMNANTThe right hon. Gentleman has not answered the last part of my Question.
§ MR. HALDANEWe are doing everything we can to lessen the discharges. I cannot keep men on when there is no work for them to do. I have been going into this matter personally.
§ MR. DALZIELI do not understand that the right hon. Gentleman gives any sanction to the suggestion in the Question that there is an opening for these men in Canada, having regard to the hundreds of complaints coming from that country?
§ MR. HALDANENo, Sir.