§ MR. COURTHOPEI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether practical founders are employed as inspectors to examine the foundry work done by contractors for the Navy; whether any representations have been made to the Admiralty on the subject; and whether he will undertake that in future all castings and other foundry work intended for naval purposes shall be inspected by practical founders.
§ MR. LAMBERTThe inspectors employed by the Admiralty are not practical founders in the sense that they have ever been employed in a foundry; but they are practical officers with a great experience in examining foundry work. Representations on this subject have been made to the Admiralty by the founders working in one of the dockyards, but it is not proposed to make any change in the existing practice, which is that followed in the private trade.
§ MR. COURTHOPEHow do they discover flaws?
§ MR. LAMBERTasked for notice.
§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON (Durham, Barnard Castle)asked if the Admiralty would consider the question of appointing practical men.
§ MR. LAMBERTIn any new appointments that will be borne in mind.