§ Mr. MayhewI have to present a humble Petition signed by 26,552 petitioners, employees of the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich and other British subjects affected, protesting against the decision of the Government to close the ordnance factory.
The Petition shows
that sufficient work is available on the production of conventional armaments to maintain the Royal Ordnance Factory, Woolwich, at a high level of employment, provided only that honour is done to the pledge of the Secretary of State for War that Royal 396 Ordnance Factories shall be the preferred source for the manufacture of such weapons.And that great harm would be done to the welfare and development of the Borough of Woolwich and the surrounding areas by the closure of the Royal Ordnance Factory.Wherefore your petitioners pray that new work shall be directed to the Royal Ordnance Factory, and that the decision to close it be annulled.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.
§ To lie upon the Table.