§ 24. Major NEWMANasked the Minister of Munitions whether he will give the names of the official board of management of the Dublin National Shell Factory and the date of their appointment; and if the capital of this company has been subscribed by public subscription or otherwise and if any part of it is Government-money?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)The official board of management of the Dublin National Shell Factory was appointed in October, 1915. The members of the board are Captain Kelly, Captain Dowme and Mr. Lewis Gray, all officials of the Ministry of Munitions. The factory has been equipped and is being carried on entirely with Government funds.
§ Mr. LUNDONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this question and the two next questions are directed against the present lady superintendent of the National Shell Factory, who, according to the admission of the War Office last week is one of the most efficient in their service; is he further aware that this lady has two brothers at the front and that she is the sister-in-law of the late Tom Kettle, and is it fair 707 that she should be pursued by the hon. and gallant Member, whose only gallantry consists in throwing mud at his own fellow-countrymen at the instance of the Marchioness of Waterford?
§ Major NEWMANShould I be in order in saying that I am not asking these questions at the instance of the lady named but on behalf of other ladies who have also lost their brothers at the front. [Hoy. MEMBERS: "Carrion crow!"]
§ 25. Major NEWMANasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that when the Dublin National Shell Factory was erected a canteen for women was with difficulty started and worked by a band of unpaid and volunteer social workers who have recently been dismissed by the official board of management; and has he been able to ascertain whether their services were dispensed with on the ground of lack of ability, lack of organisation, or any similar reason?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYWhen the canteen at the Dublin National Shell Factory was originally started the management was, as the hon. and gallant Member states, carried on by voluntary workers with certain paid assistance. Increasing difficulties, however, arose in getting sufficient voluntary assistance for work at night and during the summer months, and as a consequence numerous complaints were received from the factory workers as to the management of the canteen. It was on this ground and on the ground of economy that the decision was arrived at to run the canteen in the usual way with a paid staff. My right hon. Friend would like to take this opportunity of expressing his acknowledgment of the services that have been rendered by many of the voluntary workers.
§ Mr. FLAVINHas the hon. Gentleman made inquiries, and, if not, will he make inquiries into the voluntary system, which is of such an unsatisfactory character that girls working on the night shift cannot even get tea?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI think the answer I have given covers the point generally.
§ 26. Major NEWMANasked the Minister of Munitions whether the cost of the substitution of paid labour for voluntary and unpaid labour in the munition canteen of the Dublin National Shell Factory will be met out of public funds or from the profits 708 of the canteen itself; and will he give an estimate of the salary that will be paid to the welfare superintendent at the factory, and an estimate of the weekly or monthly, whichever is most convenient, wages of the paid workers?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYThe additional cost of paid labour, due to the change in the management of the canteen, will be met out of the profits of the canteen. No additional salary will be paid to the welfare superintendent at the factory as a result of the change. It is estimated that about £15 per week will be payable to the canteen employés under the new system of management
§ Major NEWMANDoes that include the salary of the superintendent?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYIt includes all the salaries.
§ Mr. LUNDONWill the hon. Gentleman consult the War Office as to the advisability of transferring the hon. and gallant Gentleman from this House and sending him over to the Marchioness of Waterford as a voluntary worker?