§ 75. Mr. LOOKERasked the Secretary of State for War when the material collected by the fishermen at Shoeburyness which was not taken over by the late contractor or paid for by him will be accounted for to the fishermen by the late contractor?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe whole of the material collected during the period of the late contract has not yet been taken over by the late contractor. He is, however, being pressed by the Department to pay to the fishermen such sums as may be properly due to them.
§ Mr. LOOKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the failure to receive payments due is causing great hardship and distress to some of these poor people?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSYes, and because of that, I am doing more than I really ought to do, because this is a question solely between the fishermen and the contractor. I am putting what pressure I can on the contractor, and it may be that the fishermen will have to take legal proceedings against him.