§ Lord CHARLES BERESFORDasked whether very little time was given for the presentation of new petitions from the men belonging to the several trades in Portsmouth Dockyard; that the men employed in the several trades in Portsmouth Dockyard had only one evening in which to formulate the requests presented in their petitions; that there was a mass meeting of the men protesting against such haste; and whether he will assure the House that on future occasions some consideration will be shown to those who wish to represent the serious concerns of life and labour?
§ Mr. McKENNAWith regard to the first and second parts of the question, the men were first informed on the 16th instant that new petitions might be presented, and the latest date for receipt was given as 13th August. It was found necessary to receive the petitions earlier, and on the 20th instant the men were informed that the petitions should be lodged by the 22nd instant. This date was extended on the 21st to the 23rd. I have2656W no information as to the third part of the question. As to the fourth part, as much notice as possible is always given.
§ Mr. FALLEasked if a rise of 2s. a week has been given to all or to a certain number of skilled labourers in Portsmouth Dockyard, but that the skilled labourers employed under the director of works are expressly excepted from this rise?
§ Mr. McKENNAA rise of 2s. a week in the maximum rates of pay has been granted to a limited number of skilled labourers in the constructive and engineering departments engaged on special work in all the dockyards, but these increases are not general to all classes of skilled labourers in the employment of the Admiralty.
§ Mr. FALLEasked whether seventeen men, employed under the Director of Works, Portsmouth Dockyard, were compelled on Monday, the 18th, to stand off from 10 a.m. owing to the weather, and were not paid half-time for the time so lost, as was the custom previous to January, 1910; and, if this is the only branch of the service where men are so treated, whether he will remedy this state of affairs?
§ Mr. McKENNAIt has been ascertained from Portsmouth that seventeen men employed under the Director of Works at that yard were compelled on Monday, the 18th inst., to stand off from 10.30 a.m., owing to inclement weather, there being no work available under cover to which they could be transferred. Thirteen of these men returned to work at 1.30 p.m., but the other four remained out the rest of the day. They were not paid half-time for the day so lost, in accordance with revised regulations which came into force in January last.