78. Mr. ROBINSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the men employed at Portsmouth dockyard will be given the customary half-holiday with pay on the polling day for the General Election; and, if not, the reason for the change in the customary practice?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMNo half-holiday on polling day has been provided for in the dockyard rules and regulations for many years; and in view of the facilities now provided for polling it is not intended to give special authority for a half-holiday on the present occasion.
§ Mr. KELLYMay I ask the date when the Admiralty and other Departments gave instructions for the abolition of this half-day before election day?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMBefore 1894 the half-holiday was allowed. It was one of the privileges involving loss of working time, and it was abolished when the average 48-hour week was introduced in 1894.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI shall have to have notice of that question.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHADoes the hon. and gallant Gentleman say that in none of the dockyards has it been customary to give a holiday at any General Election?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMIt was customary up to 1894.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman discovers that this half-holiday was actually given at the last General Election, will he reconsider his decision?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMNo, there is no reason to reconsider it. The decision is made, and there is plenty of time for people to vote under the present rules.
§ Mr. MORRISONThe hon. and gallant Gentleman has just announced that this has not been a custom for many years, but apparently there is a likelihood that it took place at the last General Election, and why should it not be repeated on the present occasion?