CAPTAIN CRAIGI beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, in view of the distress caused by the discharges from Woolwich Arsenal and Dockyard among the working classes and shopkeepers, he will arrange to take Vote 8, Ordnance Establishment, before the end of this month, so as to afford an opportunity to the House of discussing the whole matter before any further discharges take place.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI understand that the consideration of this Vote would afford no opportunity for discussing the question of these discharges; but in any case the causes of the reduction of the Arsenal Staff are so well known that it seems to me doubtful whether a discussion would be of any benefit. As my right hon. friend the Secretary for War, has informed the House, they are due to general reductions 1172 in naval and military expenditure and not to any unusual allocation of Government orders, and everything that legitimately can be done will be done to temper the hardship which they entail.