§ 22. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the increases of pay coming into force in the Royal Dockyards on the 1st June will place the joiners in an inferior position to that formerly occupied by them; that in 1905 the joiners' pay was only 1s. below that of the shipwrights, whereas on 1st June it will be 2s.; and if he will take the necessary steps to increase the pay of the 308 joiners so that this trade may not be placed at a disadvantage by the liberality of the Admiralty in other directions?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIt is true that from 1st June the difference between the rates of shipwrights and joiners, respectively, will be 6d. a week more than it is to-day. I can give no undertaking to increase the joiners' pay; but I might point out that this class received 1s. a week increase in 1905, and another 1s. increase in 1908. Under the recent decisions they will receive a further 1s. 6d. a week from the 1st June.