§ MR. ANGERSTEINsaid, he wished to call the attention of the Secretary to the Admiralty to the Wages of Dockyard Labourers, and to ask, Under what circumstances they have been recently reduced from 14s. to 13s. a-week, and whether the Vote taken last Friday is sufficient to pay them the former amount? Though superannuation was a great benefit to the established labourers in the dockyards, it did not extend to the class of hired labourers whose case he had in view. The price of bread now was again high, and house-rent had been raised immensely, so that he believed a single room in that district could not be had for less than 2s. 9d. or 3s. a week. The wages now given by the Admiralty were below the average in that district, for the labourers employed in the main drainage works had 21s. a week, the builders' labourers had 18s., and no field labourer was paid less than 15s. a week, if the labour was not permanent, or 14s. if it was. The number of the labourers employed in Her Majesty's dockyards was 2,269, and the reduction of 1s. a week on their wages amounted only to the sum of £6,000 a year, which was a saving of very small account to set against the severe hardship inflicted on that class of men. He, therefore, hoped the Government would reconsider their decision in this case.
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, he was not surprised that his hon. Friend, the 842 Member for Greenwich, should speak for these men belonging to Woolwich Dockyard. It was true the Admiralty had found it necessary within the last two months to make a reduction in the wages of a portion of the lower classes of labourers employed in the dockyards. The fact was that till 1857 they received only 12s. a week, and he must say there had never been the least difficulty in obtaining as many men as were required. But in 1857 the wages were raised to 13s., and would have remained at that, but during the great pressure of work in 1859 the task and job system was introduced in the dockyard. The artificers were stimulated to work more by the opportunity of unlimited earnings; and as they used a great deal more material, the labourers also had more to do. It was then considered that, as the artificers were getting an accession of pay under the task and job system, it was fair that the labourers also should have some benefit, and their wages were raised to 14s. When, however, in February last, it was determined that the system of task and job work should cease, it was naturally decided that the labourers also should revert to the pay which they had before that system commenced.
§ MR. ANGERSTEINBut they still worked the same number of hours?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, that that was true; but so did the artificers, and as they benefited when those had more pay, it was only right that when the task and job system ceased they should be put upon the old footing along with the artificers. The established labourers at present received 14s., and it was only the second and third class that had been reduced. The latter were without superannuation, but they were eligible for promotion to the established class, and, when on the limited list of established labourers, they would receive 14s. a week and be put on the superannuation list.