The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-29 00:00:00

NO. L-ESTABLISHMENT OF YARDS.

My Lords are pleased to direct that the number of
shipwrights now employed in her Majesty's dockyards
be reduced to 3,500; and that corresponding reductions
be made in the other branches of skilled labour, accord-
ing to the scale now in use for regulating the Propor-
tions between the shipwrights and other classes of
artificers.

A printed sheet, containing the future establishment
of each yard, which my Lords hare fixed with due re-
ference to the programme of building, and repairs, pro-
posed by the surveyor for the next five years, will be
transmitted with this minute; and my Lords, having al-
lowed all vacancies from superannuations or deaths to
remain unfilled since August last, in the anticipation of
those reductions, which are not to take place until the
commencement of the next financial year (Ist April,
1849), they are willing to hope that the pressure upon
the working classes will be greatly alleviated by these
precautions.
The superintendents will take care to hold a general
survey of the yard in the month of March, and to re-
commend for superannuation those who are unfit for ac
tivo service, retaining the younger and more vigorous
men, who must otherwise be discharged.

H. G. WARD.

NO. IL--APPRENTICES.

My Lords have taken into consideration the number
of apprentices admitted of late years into dockyards, as
compared with the number of shipwrights.
They find a perfect unanimity of opinion as to the ad-
vantages of filling all vacancies iu the yards by young
men brought up in them, not only because of the habits
of subordination which they acquire there, but also on
account of the excellent education that they are now
receiving.
. .

But, on the other hand, my Lords are satisfied that
the entries of the last seven years greatly exceed th© an-
nual vacancies by death, or superannuation ; and they
are, therefore, pleased to reduce the establishment of
apprentices in each yard by one-sixth of the number of
shipwrights, in lieu of one-fourth ; and the entries in
the present, 'and each subsequent year, to one-seventh
of this reduced ;establishment, which they believe to be
amply sufficient to provide for the wants of the service.
This will give to—
Established Apprentices. Annual Entry.
Deptford 6
Woolwich 75 ... 11
Chatham 76 ... 11
Sheerness 63 9
Portsmouth ... 135 19
Devonport ... 125 ... 18
Pembroke ... 66 ... 9

My Lords conceiving that it would be at once unjust
and uneconomical for the public to take charge of boys
up to the ago of 21, and then discard them, propose to
provide for the apprentices coming out of their time
during the next five years, by a hired list, under Order
in Council, to be composed entirely of those apprentices,
and to cease when they are placed upon the establish-
ment. This privilege, however, may be forfeited by
misconduct of any kind; and the selection of apprentices
tor establishment will be decided by the board, not by
seniority, but with due reference to the recommenda-
tions of the superintendent and the master shipwright.
11. G. WARD.
NO. lII.—WORKING HOURS.
bly Lords are pleased to direct that from and after the
Ist of March next the working hours in all the dock and
victualling yards shall be regulated by one unfurm scale,
which is to be as follows:

NEW SCALE OF WORKING HOURS IN ALL HER MAJESTY'S

DOCKYARDS AND VICTUALLING YARDS.

Bell rings
Gates close. lien rings. Gates close. 5 m. before
Dec. Ito Jan 30 7'45 11'50 1.10 4.15.

February
Mar. Ito Oct. 30 7.10 11'50 110 61)0

November 7'25 1154 1.10 5.15
H. G. WARD.
NO, IV.—MUSTER BY TICKETS.
Nly Lords are pleased to direct that the Chatham sys-
tem of muster by tickets be adopted in all the dockyards,
from the Ist of April next; and they have desired pro-
vision to be made in the estimates for erecting the ne•
cessary buildings for the ticket tables, the muster gal-
leries being so placed as to admit of the men passing