The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-27 00:00:00

THE DISCHARGE OF DOCKYARD
WORKMEN.

The f. llovving conei undone has passed between
Mr. Morley and NI r. (Madera :
Wood-aleaet, theapside, London, E C., Nov. 17.
"My dear air,—l have met wizh so many evidently erro-
neous statements upon the subject of the reductions at the
dockyards, that I ehall he much obliged to you if you will
give we the tine facts of the case, especially as to Deptford
sti,l Woolwich, awl, If piskihle, the reusens ahab have
Influenced the Government in discharging the men.
"The subject is one at swill general interest that I frelsure
you will allow me to bring it under your notice. "I am, my
dear Sir, yours very f.othfully. S. MORLEY.
"Tao Eight Hon, Hugh C. E. Childers. M.P., Admiralty."

"Admiralty. Nov. 19.
" My dear Sir,—You ask me to give you the facts as to the
recent reductions in the number of d, cliyardmen, and the
closing of De ptford and Wool% ich Dockyards ; and to ex-
plain the reasons which have influenced the Government in
the matter. I have rouch pleasure in complying with your
request, so for as the facts ere concerned ; but the arguments
for and agaMat the action of the Government can he betto
stated in narliainent than in a letter during the receas. You
however, find the pobcy, both of the present and of the
file Government, explained and defended In the debates on
the Navy Estimates in 1467, 1569, and 1669
"During the last years of Lord Palmeratou's and during Lord
Russell's Government, the numbers of workmen employed
in the dockyards were in °oxidise of gradual reduction, and in
July, 1666, they stood at 18,558.
"Alter the accession, in that month, of the late Govern-
ment they were increased, until they reached 19,334 in
January, MO, and 20,313 in January, leo3.
" In the spring of 16d3 the Government made a great
reduction In these numbers, which stood at 19,432 in
April, 17,294 in May, and 15,128 in July; and they were
15,954 in December, IS6B, just before the change of
Government. The teductnn made by the late Government
during eleven months of isfid was therefore to the extent
of 4 370 moo; and it was effected by the discharge of
1040 hired men, and the pensioning of 411 established
men. 01 the hired men 70 received a gratuity on their ills-

Charge.
"No raleetion in maul iera was made by the present On.
vernment during the winter from December, le6B, to March.
Iseg ; but steps were taken to assist some of the elockyard-
men who had been discharged, and were its distress, to emi-
grate. But the closing of Deptford and the prospective
closing of Woolwich led to gradual reductions during the rest
of the year ; and the numbers now employed are 14,613, or
1,01 less than schen the present Government took office in
December, 1064. During that period of 11 months 617
e-tablished men have been pensioned at an average rate of
above So a week, C 66 have beris aided to emigrate and 187
have received gratuities on discharge. The total number
assisted In these ways, 1,470, exceeds by 1(1) the extent of the
reduction during the same period ; most of the 'emigrants'
having been discharged during the previous year.
" The discharges would have been greater had not the
present Government conanenced the building of three new
turret ships, although it hod been decided by their prods-
erasers to build no new ships during the present year. This
change of policy was challenged in the House of Commons,
and on the Bth of March, lst9, a reduction of 4.30,040 in the
vote tor wages was proposed. The motion was resisted and
del.ted by 122 to 46
"You azlc rile to give particulars as to the closing of Dept-
ford and Woolwich D mayarde. In 1864 the Committee of
the House of Comm one on dockyard extensionarecommended
that prospectively Deptford, Woolwich, and Pembroke should
be closed. The resolutions as to Deptford awl Woolwich
were carried unanimously, the following members being pre-
sent :—Mr. Berkeley, Sir Francis Baring, Sr John raking-
ton, Mr. Corry, Sir James Elphinstone, Sir Morton Peto, Sir
Joseph Paxton, Mr Lawson, Mr. Leathern, Mr. Laird, Mr.
lienneesey, Captain Talbot, Sir John Hay, and Lord Clarence
Paget (chairman). The ',solution as to Pembroke was carried
by nine to four, the noes being Mr. Berkeley, Sir Francis
Baring, Sir John Pakington, and Mr. Corry.
"The late Government carried out this resolution as to
Deptford, the order to clone which, on the 31st of March
last, was given in DAS. The present Government have
carried out this resolution as to Woolwich. But tney have
not adopted the recommeudation of the committee to dose
Pembroke also.
"The total number of workmen in Woolwich and Deptford
Dockyard., on the accession of the present Government to
office, was 2,431. Of theFe, 1,235 have been transferred to
other dockyards on full employment; 210 have been pen-
sioned at an average of 10s. a week; 342 have been assisted
to emierate ; 171 have been discharged with geatuities ; 42
have been dismissed, died, or are temporarily retained ; and
the remainder, 392 hired men on weekly wages, have been
discharged without gratuities.
"Of the men discharged with gratuities, many had no
claim under the terms of hiring, but the rule has been
specially relaxed.
"Believe me to be yours very faithfully,
" 111:011 C. E. CIIILLERS.

"S. Morley, Eon , P."