§ 21. Mr. JAMES HOGGEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received Petitions from the light keepers asking for increased pay; when such Petitions were received; and what is the reason of the delay in dealing with their requests?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)The Board of Trade received letters from the general lighthouse authorities in April last recommending an increase of pay and allowances to the light keepers in their services. The grounds on which the re-commendations were based were most carefully considered by the Board, but having regard to all the circumstances and especially to the fact that an increase of pay and other benefits was granted as recently as 1909 at an annual cost of £3,155, they came to the conclusion that they were not justified in sanctioning the further increases recently proposed. With regard to the last part of the question, I have no knowledge of any delay in dealing with the matter.