§ MR. T. F. RICHARDS (Wolverhampton, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an executive officer of the Naval Ordnance Department has refused to forward a petition from the storehouse clerks to the Admiralty, and, if so, can he say whether this officer was acting upon his own authority, and what action he intends to take in the matter.
§ MR. McKENNAA petition put forward by the storehouse clerks to amend the position of their own class at Woolwich in January last, was objected to by the acting naval ordnance officer on the ground that it was signed by several men who were not storehouse clerks. They were directed to amend the petition by excluding such names, but they preferred to withdraw it. Since that time no new petition has been received. This action, which was correct, was taken by the acting naval ordnance officer on his own authority. If a properly signed petition is put forward it will be duly considered.