Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the rule applying to men working in the danger buildings at Woolwich, that the shirts worn are to be made of wool, is being more rigidly enforced; that there is often a difference of opinion as to whether a particular shirt is wool or not, one foreman saying it is and another foreman saying it is not; that this at times throws undue expense upon the workmen in having to buy new shirts; that another cause of extra expense is that on occasions men are transferred to the danger buildings for a temporary period only, and have to provide themselves with new shirts for that period; and whether, in view of the fact that at certain other establishments under the War Office the workmen are provided with shirts free of cost, about the quality of which there can be no question, he will give instructions that the workmen at Woolwich referred to shall also be supplied with shirts just as other articles of protective clothing are supplied?
§ Mr. HALDANEI am aware that it has been found necessary to enforce the observance of this rule. The men have mentioned to the superintendent the difference of opinion referred to as regards the nature of the shirts, but he has been unable to substantiate the statements. No case can be traced of men temporarily transferred and so having to buy new shirts. Shirts, are only supplied free of cost at Waltham for special work in the nitro-glycerine factory and at Woolwich in the lyddite establishment—in both cases on account of the destructive nature in the material of these particular processes. There do not appear to be any good grounds for incurring the considerable public expenditure on the provision of shirts as suggested. It must be remembered that all these men are provided with Government outside clothing for carrying out their work.