§ 15. Mr. BARNESasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he has yet considered the 940 petition of the dockyard workers sent him last year, backed by deputations to the Admiralty in April last, and made the subject of Debate in the House of 27th July last; and, if so, will he say with what result?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIn dealing with this year's petitions I received a number of general deputations in London in April and May. Later I visited Haulbowline, Pembroke Dock, Devonport, Portsmouth, Chatham, Sheerness, and Dover, and received at those places some 300 deputations representing many classes and sections of the employés. When War broke out the work had not been completed. Since then, pressing duties have made it impossible for me either to complete my round of the naval establishments or to dissect the mass of evidence collected with the care necessary to the issue of properly considered decisions. Nor would it have been desirable, in the cases of the interviews not yet held, to detach the men in any numbers from their work for the purpose of coming before me. But I desire to assure the men that any decisions the Board may arrive at in regard to the petitions will, so far as their nature admits, have effect as if the present inevitable delay had not occurred. I should like also to take this occasion to thank the men, in the name of the Board, for the splendid way they have, in all the yards, played their part in this present emergency.
§ Mr. BARNESCan the right hon. Gentleman say approximately when he expects to translate those expressions into deeds?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say. What I have said is that any delay now shall not prejudicially affect the men concerned.