§ Mr. KELLYasked the First Lord of the Admiralty why mechanics engaged on estimating duties in His Majesty's dockyards, Malta, are to be paid an allowance of 3s. per week whilst mechanics on estimating duties in the home dockyards are in receipt of an allowance of 9s. per week?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe reason for the difference is that the conditions generally affecting the matter are different at Malta from those prevailing in the home dockyards; in particular, the qualifications of the local workmen at Malta, especially as regards their technical education, are inferior to those of the men in the home dockyards engaged on estimating duties.