21. Sir HENRY COWANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the men transferred from Peterhead Harbour works to Rosyth do not receive the transfer fee which is paid to men similarly transferred to Rosyth from southern yards; whether he can state the reason for this discrimination against men transferred from the North of Scotland; and whether he will take steps to have this inequality redressed by the payment of the transfer fee to the Peterhead men in future with arrears as from the date of their transfer?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAt the time when it was necessary to obtain a large number of workmen, mainly skilled, for employment at Rosyth, certain inducements were held out to men serving in the southern dockyards in order that they might volunteer for permanent service at Rosyth; the inducements included 2s. a week advance in wages. This 2s. transfer increase was not offered to the men who were formerly serving at Peterhead; these men were given the offer of employment at Rosyth at the usual rates for local entrants when, it became necessary to dispense with their services at Peterhead.
Sir H. COWANDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it fair that advantages should be given to men transferred from southern yards that are not offered to men transferred from Scotland?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWhat we did I think was quite equitable. We asked southern men to go a very great distance and to separate themselves from all home associations. We are offering Peterhead men the same terms as we are offering all other men from Scotland.