§ 1. Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that some seventy naval mechanicians have been recently employed on His Majesty's ship "Dominion" to do the work usually done at His Majesty's dockyard, Chatham, by civilian fitters and artificers, and that during that time some 150 civilian fitters and mechanics were discharged on the ground that there was no work for them to do; and whether he will take steps to secure that similar work be done by civilian instead of naval ratings or other wise so order the work in the dockyards as to secure continuity of employment to the workmen and prevent these discharges which are so prejudicial to the workmen?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)As I have already stated, the employment of naval mechanicians for such repair work of the Fleet as is within their capacity is entirely within the discretion of the Fleet officers. At the inspection of His Majesty's ship "Dominion's" defects the Admiral Superintendent and the Fleet officers decided together what work should be done by the dockyard and what by naval ratings. The recent discharges at Chatham were found to be absolutely necessary after most careful investigation of the work to be done.