93. Sir H. DALZIELasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether C. E. Dickes, who is employed by the Admiralty at £480 a year, and who was compelled by the military to leave Portsmouth, and who was exempted by the Lambeth Tribunal as the result of a representation by an Admiralty Committee, was previously employed at a naval station in Ireland; whether his commander-in-chief at that station had occasion to reprimand him; and, if so, can he state what the complaint was that was made against him?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMr. Dickes served as Deputy Cashier-in-Charge at His Majesty's Dockyard, Haulbowline, prior to serving at Portsmouth. My right hon. Friend is wrong in suggesting that any Admiralty Committee made representation to the Lambeth Tribunal. He evidently has in mind the Committee on Work of National Importance, which is not an Admiralty Committee. At Haul-bowline Mr. Dickes actively interested himself in the formation of an Irish section of the Union of Democratic Control, and took part, I understand, in the endeavour to organise public meetings. Further, the Vice-Admiral Commanding had occasion to give Mr. Dickes a private warning to cease association with certain persons suspected of pro-German sympathies. The Vice-Admiral, in making a private request to the Accountant-General that Mr. Dickes should be removed, spoke of him as a very good cashier and disavowed any desire to injure him professionally, and desired to make it clear that, so far as his knowledge 483 went. there was nothing against this gentleman's honour. Mr. Dickes was thereafter, as I have said, removed to Portsmouth, with the result which has been set forth in the several answers to my right hon. Friend's several questions. I may, perhaps add, in view of the undertaking I gave a week ago, that the Committee on Work of National Importance have been informed that the Admiralty do not propose to retain Mr. Dickes's services, and that it is for that Committee and the Lambeth Tribunal to agree on some other work of national importance on which to employ him.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWhen were we deprived of this admirable person's services in Ireland?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAHe went there in October, 1914.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am afraid that I cannot say.
§ Mr. BILLINGWould the right hon. Gentleman say whether Dickes is still at the Admiralty?
§ Dr. MACNAMARADickes is engaged on the claims of deceased sailors' dependants, and, as far as I know, he is at work at the present time.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI cannot say. I see that the Civil Service Commission, according to one certificate, speaks of his mother as "Sarah Ann Dickes, formerly, Wiltshire." That does not strike me as particularly German.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI think not; but I would not be quite sure about it.
§ Mr. HOUSTONDid the right hon. Gentleman not describe this gentleman as "very stupid"?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo; I said—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think if hon. Members want any further particulars, they had better give notice.