MR. LOUGH (Islington, W.)On behalf of the hon. Member for Battersea, I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the eight hours day has been put into operation in the cannon foundry and certain other departments of Woolwich Arsenal; and, if not, whether he can make a statement to the House as to when the new Regulations will be generally adopted?
* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. WOODALL,) Hanley(who replied) said: The 48 hours week has now been arranged to apply to the cannon cartridge factory, rocket factory, and the shell foundry, by the men employed therein not being required to work on Saturday. The 48 hours week has thus been made applicable to all but about 300 of the men at Woolwich who are employed on continuous opera- 225 tions—a little over 2 per cent. of the whole number.
MR. TOMLLNSONIs there any reason to suppose that the new arrangement gives satisfaction to the men?
* MR. WOODALLYes; I am delighted to say that the arrangements under the new system at Woolwich Arsenal are working very smoothly, to the general satisfaction of the men, and with the cordial co-operation of all concerned. The change referred to has not been made without considerable difficulty in the departments referred to, and I am afraid the War Office does not at present see its way to apply the eight-hour schedule in other departments which work under the continuous operation of a 12-hour shift.
§ MR. BALDWIN (Worcester, Bewdley)Are the men paid by piece work or by time?
* MR. WOODALLA very largo proportion of the men are paid piece-work, but the results are equally satisfactory, whether they were paid at a regular rate per hour or by piece-work.
MR. FORWOOD (Lancashire, Ormskirk)Have the prices of piece-work been raised since the hours of labour were reduced?