§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he could see his way to make such arrangements as would accelerate the promotion in the shipwright ratings so as to make promotion in these ratings proportionate to their complements; whether the practice now prevailing of shipwrights being required to scrub decks and their liability to be transferred from one ship to another for the purpose of coaling ships came within the ordinary duties of shipwrights; and, if so, would he consider the question of relieving them of these duties; whether his attention had been called to the nature of the messing accommodation provided for shipwrights; and would he 1543 cause inquiries to be made with a view to reform; would he consider the advisability of discontinuing the regulations imposing the degradation of being marched out of the dockyard gates, and of the possibility of removing the financial burden under which they laboured by having to furnish and keep up at their own expense a complete kit of tools for all grades of their trade?
§ The FIRST LORD of the ADMIRALTY (Mr. McKenna)The question of accelerating the advancement of shipwright ratings is now under the consideration of the Board of Admiralty. So far as is known, shipwrights are not called upon to clean any decks, except their mess deck, in the cleaning of which all hands are required to take part. It is not often the case that a man is required to coal other ships than his own, and whenever this is necessary he is granted extra pay. The possibility of such a duty must, however, be recognised. As regards messing accommodation, it is not clear in what direction reform is desired, the messing arrangements being quite satisfactory so far as the Admiralty are aware. The custom of marching men out of the dockyard gates cannot be regarded as a "degradation." Shipwrights were originally given tool money of 3d. a day in addition to their pay. In 1877, however, tool money was abolished as a separate allowance and merged in their pay, which was increased accordingly. Shipwrights, therefore, actually receive compensation for finding their own tools.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention had been drawn to the difficulty experienced in the advancement of cooper's crew to second cooper; whether he was aware that of thirty-six coopers' crews (Victualling Yard apprentices) now serving in the Devonport Division, only two had been advanced to the rating of cooper since 1902, although several had passed the necessary examination five, six, and seven years ago; whether he would consider the possibility of advancing cooper's crew to second cooper after a stated number of years instead of continuing the present system; whether he was aware that the coopers had had no rise in pay since 1877, that since that time the cost of living and maintaining a home had greatly increased, and that it was almost impossible with the present low standard rate of wages prevailing 1544 amongst the coopers to keep up any decent position; whether he was aware that the cooper was the lowest paid artisan first-class petty officer in His Majesty's service, that in addition to providing his own tools he had also to provide carpenter's tools, that he was constantly employed after working hours with the ship's stewards issuing provisions after working during the day at his ordinary duties; and whether, in these circumstances, he could see his way to place the coopers on the same basis as other lower-deck ratings and grant them progressive pay every three years?
§ Mr. McKENNACooper ratings are entered as boy coopers and trained in the victualling yards. At the age of eighteen they are rated cooper's crew, and drafted into the service afloat. Cooper's crew are advanced to second cooper as vacancies occur, but second coopers are advanced automatically to cooper after four years' service as second cooper. Cooper's crew are not advanced direct to cooper. The state of the lists of cooper ratings has recently been examined, and it is found that almost all the cooper's crew have less than six years' service as such; and it is not considered, therefore, that any special or other measures are necessary to accelerate advancement in this class at present. The pay of cooper ratings is at present as follows:—Cooper's crew, 2s. 6d. a day; second cooper, 2s. 10d. a day; cooper, 3s. 2d. a day. In 1877 the pay of a cooper was 3s. a day, plus 2d a day tool money. In 1891 the tool money was abolished as a separate allowance and the pay increased to 3s. 2d. a day. This rate has so far been found sufficient to attract suitable men, and no increase is considered to be necessary.
§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the report of the Fair Wages Advisory Committee in the matter of the minimum rate of wages paid to labourers in the employ of the War Office, and the intention of the War Office to increase the minimum as from 1st April next, he will consider the question of a corresponding increase being made in the minimum rate of wages paid to labourers in the Royal Dockyards?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe report referred to by the hon. Gentleman is at present engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government. It has been the practice in the past for the Admiralty and War Office 1545 to consult together before any alteration in rates of wages is made, in order that, so far as the varying conditions admit, the men employed by both Departments may receive similar treatment, and to this practice my right hon. Friend and I propose to adhere.