§ Mr. WATTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether the organising dele gate of the United Operative Masons' Association of Scotland has been refused permission to enter the new works in course of erection at Greenock and at Rosyth; whether he was aware that it was the established custom in Scotland for the organiser of that association to have access to all work where operative masons are employed, with the object of seeing the conditions of employment; and whether, in view of the fact that the War Office grants permission to visit all new work, he would in future permit the visits of the association's representative?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt has not been possible to grant the general permission asked for, having in view the nature of the works at Greenock. With regard to Rosyth, the matter appears to be one for the contract ors. I am not aware that the custom in Scotland is as alleged in the question. With regard to the allegation concerning the War Office, I understand that that Department has refused to grant similar requests in regard to their works in Scotland.
§ Mr. JOHN WARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he could state the number of workmen employed upon t he new dock works at Rosyth on 9th April, 1911, mechanics, navvies, and labourers separately; and the number whose wages were 5d. per hour and under on that date?
§ Mr. MCKENNAThe numbers were:—
The number employed whose wages were 5d. per hour and under was fifty-one; this includes boys. No man employed on the works is paid less than 5d. per hour.
Mechanics … … … 120 Navvies … … … None Labourers … … … 68 … … … 188
§ Mr. J. WARDSurely, there must be some mistake as to the number of men employed at the new dock works at Rosyth?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe particular date which my hon. Friend has chosen happens to be Sunday.
§ Mr. J. WARDasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he had received any communication from the Scottish Navvy Mission Society with reference to the necessity of building decent house accommodation for the workmen employed upon the new dock works at Rosyth in the shape of huts built upon the English system; and whether he has satisfied himself that the Scottish Navvy Mission Society is not opposed to this principle of housing men engaged upon public works?
§ Mr. McKENNAA newspaper cutting which gives an account of the meeting of Rosyth workmen held at the beginning of April to consider huts and hut-life, contains the statement that in the course of an address, the General Superintendent of the Scottish. Navvy Mission Society declared that. he would welcome a number of huts in connection with the Rosyth contract, if such huts were built upon the English system, but he felt it would be a misfortune to the contractors, to the men themselves, and to the district, if the huts of the class known as "shanties" were put up. I have received no official information.