§ Mr. CHARLES DUNCANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the standard wage paid to the labourers at Devonport in Government employ is £1 1s. per week for forty-eight hours, or at the rate of 5¼d. per hour; whether he is aware that the firm of John Brown and Company, of Clydebank, are employing labourers on the "Indefatigable" at the rate of £1 2s. 6d. for fifty-four hours; and whether he will make inquiries into this matter and, if necessary, induce this firm to pay the recognised rate of 5¼d. per hour to their labourers in the future, and further request this firm to repay to their labourers the amounts the firm have held back, amounting to 1s. per week, for the number of weeks such labourers have been in the firm's employ, which it is necessary this firm should pay in order to fully comply with the Fair Wages Clause of this House?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affimative. With regard to the remainder of the question, inquiries are being made on the subject.