§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that 1002W a plumber of Birkenhead, who has made four trips on the auxiliary cruiser H.M.S. "Andes," at the port rate of £12 per month, was informed by the captain on the last trip that in future he would only be paid £10 per month, and that, if he refused to accept this, he would be sent to barracks; and whether he will make inquiries into this matter and state the reason for this enforced reduction of the proper rate?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Admiralty have at present no definite information as to what the captain said to the plumber, but £10 is the standard rate adopted by the Admiralty for the mercantile rating of plumber. If the man was unwilling to accept this rate, the Admiralty have the option of terminating his engagement at seven days' notice under the terms of his agreement. The man will continue to be paid the rate for which he signed until he is discharged under that agreement, unless he decides to accept the Admiralty standard rate. There was, therefore, no enforced reduction of the rate, and there is no authority for stating that he would be sent to the barracks if he refused. For the guidance of those whom it may concern, I should like to say this. No one has any right to threaten men with military service if they refuse to accept less than the Admiralty standard rate. On the other hand, the Admiralty are not prepared to concede the claim of an applicant to higher payment than that rate. If the person concerned refuses to sign on at the standard rate, then he will be in this position: For the period of a fortnight—as to which see Section 6 of the Military Service Act, 1916 (Session 2)—it will be open to him to seek an opportunity to sign on in another ship, and again at the Admiralty standard rate. If he fails to do this, he is, of course, liable under the Military Service Act