§ Mr. CREANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the workmen at Haulbowline, who reside at Queenstown, are conveyed to and from the island free of charge on the Government launch; that the workmen residing at Ringaskiddy, Monkstown, and the western side of the harbour are compelled to pay a local company for a like service; and, seeing that frequent applications have been made by those men for similar treatment to that given to those residing at Queens-town and the eastern side of the harbour, will he say on what grounds those facilities have been refused?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)The Admiralty provides a ferry service between Queenstown and Haulbowline which is used by the majority of the men working in Haulbowline Yard. We do not recognise any obligation to provide free passages for men who find it to their advantage to reside at places where they are unable to make use of the facilities which the Admiralty affords.
§ Mr. CREANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that for many years, up to a very late period, the men residing to the west of the island had the use of a boat to bring them to and from the island, and that they had only very lately been deprived of that, and can he see his way to give those people who have been residing there all their lives such accommodation, 565 or advance the slight amount of money necessary to enable them to provide it for themselves?
§ Mr. McKENNAI will look further into the question, but I am not able to make any promise.
§ Mr. McKENNAYes.