§ Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware of the effect of the latest war bonus presented to temporary clerks at the Admiralty, namely, to put all men clerks previously receiving 54s. a week or less on a flat rate of wages of that amount, including war bonus, irrespective of length of service, merit, or any other consideration ; whether he is aware that on this basis such temporary clerks arc now receiving increments to their previous emoluments varying from 10s. a week in the case of men of short service to 2s. a week in the case of those with longer service, thereby discounting or 1115W annulling all previous increments for presumably good service; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting more equitable treatment in these cases, and of giving a wage of more than 54s, a week for skilled clerical labour?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe considerations mentioned in the first part of the question have not been lost sight of, and the question whether any further increase can be granted to clerks who by reason of length of service or special merit had been granted rates of pay in excess of the old minimum is under consideration.