§ MR. BOWERMAN (Deptford)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that a hired labourer has recently been employed in the clothing store at the Deptford Victualling Yard performing the duties of a first-class and established storehouseman; and what steps he proposes to take.
(Answered by Mr. McKenna.) The hired labourer referred to is employed temporarily in lieu of a second-class storehouseman in a branch of the clothing store at Deptford, pending a re-arrangement of the storehouse staff at the victualling yards generally which is now under consideration, and he is rated and paid as an acting second-class storehouseman while so employed. Recently the first-class storehouseman in the same branch was absent sick for two short periods, and the man referred to, being the person best acquainted with that particular work, carried it on during his absence, and was paid at the first-class storehouseman's rate meanwhile. There is nothing unusual in this, and it is not proposed to take any action in the matter.