Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it has been the custom in setting on labourers in the rigging house, who will in their turn become riggers, to give preference to men who have served in the Navy; if so, whether he is aware that men who have never served in the Navy have recently been started as labourers in the rigging house; and will he state what is the policy of the Admiralty in the matter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASo far as I know, there has not been any recent general change of practice in respect of the entry of labourers in the rigging houses. It is the fact that a labourer engaged in the rigging houses could not become a rigger unless he had had previous suitable training. But we do not on that account exclude other men from employment as labourers in the rigging houses, though, in the absence of the qualification indicated, they would not be eligible for appointment as riggers.