§ MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what are the rates of pay of the various grades of writers in the Naval Ordnance Department; whether these writers are allowed to present petitions in cases of grievance; whether these rates of pay are to be increased, and to what extent; and what are the conditions as to sick pay and sick leave applying to this branch of the service.
(Answered by Mr. Edmund Robertson.) The rates of pay are shown at Page 122 of the Navy Estimates, 1908–9. Petitions have been recently received from some of the writers, and there is nothing to prevent them from sending in petitions in the usual manner. The new rates of pay were promulgated in April last, and I cannot hold out any hope of their being increased. The regulations in regard to leave are the same as those obtaining in the dockyards, and are as follows—
§ be put in force in their districts, and these are receiving attention. Orders have not at present been issued. Indeed, the cases have not generally reached the stage of formal applications for orders. Certain preliminary proceedings have first to be taken.