§ 80. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the subordinate sterling-paid staff of the Admiralty employed in His Majesty's dockyard, Hong Kong, comprising foremen, inspectors, clerks, storehousemen, etc., are placed in an unfair position by reason of the rise in the exhange value of 580 the dollar; that in pre-war days the exchange value was is. 9d., giving approximately $11 for each £L of salary; whether the exchange value is now 3s. 1¼d. and still advancing, giving little over $6 for each. £1 of salary, approaching a 50 per cent. loss; and that some of the Admiralty employes in the yard are paid entirely in dollar rates, so much pay, so much colonial allowance, so much house allowance, each being a definite fixed sum in dollars; and will he consider the advisability of converting salaries or wages into dollars at a fixed and reasonable rate of exchange, say is. 9¾d. per dollar, the average of the Service rate of exchange prior to the War, and so place all Government employées on: the same footing?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAProposals for the payment of the salaries, in whole or in part, of dockyard staff and of naval officers and ratings at a fixed rate of exchange are now receiving consideration at the Treasury. These Admiralty proposals, however, involve a general reconsideration of the method of payment of Army officers and others in the Far East. A decision will be obtained at the earliest possible moment.