Source: Hansard 13 June 1893

THE GOVERNMENT VICTUALLING YARD, DEPTFORD.

HC Deb 13 June 1893 vol 13 cc892-3

MR. KEIR HARDIE (West Ham, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether a section of the workmen at the Government Victualling Yard, Deptford, petitioned the authorities some six weeks ago asking that wages should be paid for the four statutory holidays—namely, Coronation Day, Queen's Birthday, Good Friday, and Christmas Day; whether some of those who signed the Petition were censured, while others had their wages reduced, and three, including Edward Pluck, who afterwards committed suicide, were dismissed as a punishment for having signed the Petition; and whether this action has been taken with the sanction of the Government?

THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. E. ROBERTSON) Dundee

The answer to the first paragraph of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. The 15 men who signed the Petition were not engaged by the Admiralty, but were the servants of the contractor who has the contract for the repairs and maintenance works at Deptford. They petitioned to be placed on the same footing as men in the direct employment of the Admiralty. As to the second paragraph, I have ascertained, on inquiry, that three of the men who signed the Petition, including Edward Pluck, were withdrawn by the contractor from the works at Deptford. I have no official information as to any other dealings of the contractor with his workmen, and the Admiralty has no power over them, and no responsibility for them.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

In consequence of the answer I have received, I beg to give notice of my intention at the close of the questions to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House.

 

THE SUICIDE OF EDWARD PLUCK.

HC Deb 13 June 1893 vol 13 c893 893

MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to an inquest held at Deptford on 1st June, on the body of Edward Pluck, aged 65, who had committed suicide, in which the jury found that deceased committed suicide while labouring under mental derangement through having been turned out of his employment in the Government Victualling Yard at Deptford, in consequence of a clause in a Government contract prohibiting contractors from employing workmen over 65 years of age; and whether there is such a clause inserted in any contract at the Victualling Yard?

MR. E. ROBERTSON

My attention has been called to this matter by the question of the hon. Member. No such clause is inserted in any contract at the Deptford Victualling Yard.

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This link will take you to Bill Ellson's blog "Deptford Misc" which provides a more detailed account of the life and death of Edward Pluck.

This link will take you to a report on the inquest that was published in Reynold's Newspaper of 25 June 1893.  My thank to Bill Ellson for providing this.

Edward Pluck is PL311 in Tree 5.