§ Mr. LONSDALEasked whether the amounts allocated to the various dockyards for repairs during the current financial year fall short of the sums asked for by the officials as being necessary for the work of the year; and, if so, whether this cutting down of expenditure will throw the repair work seriously into arrear and cause a great deal of unemployment?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt is undesirable to discuss draft estimates made in advance and submitted by officials, as wholly erroneous conclusions might be drawn from them.
§ Mr. LONSDALEIs it not a fact that in consequence of that the work has been seriously thrown into arrear?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir. I am not in a position to discuss what estimates were submitted to the Board of Admiralty by officials of the dockyards.