Mr. THORNEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, whether he is aware that the firm of Lee Barber, corn merchants, North Quay, Great Yarmouth, are now loading up oats into the warehouse with soldiers' labour, whilst at the same time a number of men in Yarmouth are only working one or two days a week 2280W and in some cases doing no work at all; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have no knowledge of the particular case referred to, but I will have inquiries made, and will let my hon. Friend know the result as soon as possible.
Mr. THORNEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that there is a dispute of the members of the Gasworkers and General Labourers Union with Messrs. Bunn, of Great Yarmouth, because the firm only offered to pay the men 7½d. per score bags for loading oats whereas the other merchants are paying 1d. per bag for doing exactly the same amount of work; if he is aware that soldiers belonging to the 6/3rd Battalion of the Essex Regiment have been engaged to knobstick the men; and if he is now in a position to report upon the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am informed that the dispute referred to has been settled. I am making inquiries into the matter raised in the second part of the question.
§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that men of the 37th Company, 10th County of London Corps, were called upon shortly before last Christmas to do parcel work at Mount Pleasant post office; that they were employed there nine hours per day for nine days; that for the first two days' work they received 8s. 8d. per man, but received nothing for the remaining seven days; that the postal authorities allege that the pay was stopped according to instructions received from the military authorities; and whether this employment of soldiers for civilian work without civilian pay had the sanction of the War Office?
§ Mr. FORSTERThese men were employed as soldiers in handling special military mails for the Expeditionary Forces. For this military duty the men were entitled only to the appropriate military emoluments.