77. Mr. POINTERasked if the Secretary to the Admiralty's attention has been called to the case of Messrs. Frank Mills and Company, Limited, Sheffield, who are manufacturing marine flush bolster knives (No. 30), for which the trade price is 10s. per gross, and are only paying 8s. 6d. per gross; whether he can give any explanation why letters on this matter sent by the secretary of the Sheffield Trades Council, on 1st September, 1911, and on 26th June. 1912, have received no reply beyond a bare acknowledgment; and if he will inquire into the circumstances?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy attention has been called to the case in question. The firm state that they pay the agreed rate. There are, however, certain details of the matter still under investigation, hut 1 hope that our inquiries will be complete in a few days. With regard to the second part of the question, the letter of the 1st of September, 1911, was replied to by Admiralty letter of the 30th November, 1911, which intimated that the two firms then complained of had agreed to pay the rates claimed. The letter of the 1st of September, 1911, stated that Messrs. Mills were then paying the agreed rate, and as a letter addressed by the Admiralty to them confirmed that information, no action was then necessary in regard to 485 this particular firm. The complaint against Messrs. Mills was contained in the later letter of June, 1912, in regard to which, as I have stated, I hope that our inquiries will shortly be complete.