§ Mr. ADAMSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Douglas Henderson, who was employed at Rosyth as a temporary writer prior to entering the 1083W Army in May, 1917; whether he is aware that Henderson was discharged from the Army in February, 1918; that he applied for reinstatement in his former position, but this was refused on the ground that a woman clerk was employed in his place; that subsequently he was engaged as an assistant storehouseman, signing a wages contract form for a rate of 30s. per week, plus 20s. war bonus, plus 12½ per cent.; that he was taken on a month's trial, but several months afterwards he was informed by the foreman of the works department that he would either have to take his discharge or accept transfer to a labourer's position; that subsequently as a result of representations made by the local war pensions committee, he was transferred to the naval stores officer department as a telephone operator, the rate of pay for which is similar to that of assistant storehouseman; that on inquiries being made he ascertained he had been entered as a telephone messenger at a rate of 6s. below his former rate, although he had never signed any new wages contract form; and whether he will make inquiries into this case with a view to this discharged soldier receiving proper treatment?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am advised that the facts concerning this case are as follows:—
Henderson had congenital dislocation of hip. He was operated on about 1910, and stated that his leg had become progressively worse since then, and that he suffers much pain after standing about any length of time. On release from military service Henderson was not refused reinstatement in the cashier's office, but obtained a position as storehouseman in the works department. He was transferred to the store department as an ordinary labourer on telephone duties owing to his infirmity, and received the usual remuneration for work on which he was employed. No contract or other form is signed by men on transfer, and Henderson received due notice. Henderson was eventually removed to clerical work in storehouses owing to his bad timekeeping and frequent absence. Henderson was only seven months in the Army, where he was employed on clerical work, and never went abroad; the infirmity for which he was discharged from the Army is congenital.
The utmost sympathy is naturally extended to all disabled ex-Service men.