§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the distress caused by the 626 dismissal of employees, most of whom have been employed for many years in Government departments at Woolwich; if he is aware that the Colonial Office is recommending those artisans to emigrate; and if he will take steps to suspend the pending notices of discharge until some opportunity has been afforded Parliament for discussing this urgent matter.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am aware of the discharges to which the hon. Member refers, and I am afraid that further discharges are, as my right hon. friend the Secretary for War has stated to the House, inevitable, as there is not sufficient work to keep the present Arsenal staff in employment. I know nothing of the report as to the Colonial Office and emigration. Every step is being taken to supply the Arsenal with work from the Public Departments, and I can only express a hope that as the discharges are being effected at a time when there is an abundant demand for labour in the trades concerned, the workmen will speedily obtain employment elsewhere.
§ CAPTAIN CRAIGIs it a fact that a large number of skilled workmen are going to foreign countries to use their skill in the same trades as those in which they are at present employed?
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not think that arises out of the Question.
§ *MR. J. MACVEAGHWait till the bloody war comes that Craig has promised, and there will be lots of work in Woolwich.