HC Deb 24 October 1916 vol 86 c969W
Mr. W. THORNE

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, in view of the judge's remarks in sentencing Asseling in the recent War Office prosecution, he will note that many men are employed at totally inadequate wages carrying out responsible inspections in his Department; that for years at Chatham and other places his Department has employed skilled master butchers to inspect live cattle and dead meat and supervise slaughtering arrangements at the remuneration of £3 10s. or £4 a week; that on the ability and honesty of these men depended the rejection of tuberculous and other diseased meat tendered for the Navy; that these men have had to be possessed of the highest technical knowledge in their trade to do their work effectively; that, as the Navy is largely now fed on frozen meat, these men are now employed on work for which the War Office is paying its inspectors seven and a half guineas a day; and that it has been repeatedly stated by the War Office that this remuneration is entirely required by the responsible character of the work; and whether, in view of War Office practice, he will raise the remuneration of his underpaid master butchers to the same figure as that paid in the War Office?

Dr. MACNAMARA

The responsibilities devolving upon the meat inspectors employed at certain naval establishments are fully recognised, but it is not considered necessary to increase their emoluments under present conditions. The partial substitution of frozen for freshly killed meat at these establishments, to which my hon. Friend refers, has, in point of fact, tended to reduce somewhat the responsibilities of these officials, as the meat has already been examined and passed by Government inspectors before it is delivered to the victualling yards.

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