§ 81. Mr. CLYNESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has received a petition signed by the temporary clerks employed at the Army Pay Office, Island Bridge, Dublin, with regard to the wages paid; whether he is aware that the wages of these men were considerably reduced in October last, and instead of receiving from 45s. to 50s. a week for the hours worked they now only receive 35s.; whether he is aware that on account of their services not being required on a recent Sunday the men were stopped 5s. from their pay; and whether he will favourably consider the men's petition and restore to them the conditions on which the majority of them were originally engaged?
Mr. BAKEROwing to a local misunderstanding some temporary clerks were wrongly taken on at a rate which did not cover overtime. When this came to light they were placed upon the authorsied rate of 35s. a week. The stoppage of the 5s. was an error which has been rectified.