§ MR. S. WOODS (Lancashire, Ince)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Messrs. Water—low and Sons, who have the printing contract for the "Parliamentary Debates," are employing labour in their printing department at from 8s. to 14s. per week, while the Trade Union rate of wages in this department is 20s. per week; and that in the department where the cheap labour is employed it is kept going at full time, while in the other departments, where Trade Union rates of wages prevail, the workpeople are only averaging about four days per week; and whether, in view of the undertaking he gave on the 3rd August, 1893, on Messrs. M'Corquodale's case, he will take steps to remedy this state of things?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTThe subject of this question having been referred to Messrs. Waterlow, the chairman of the firm has replied as follows:—
Waterlow and Sons Limited are employing Trade Union labour, and are recognised as what is termed a 'fair house' by the London Society of Compositors, and by the machine minders and pressmen, and it is not true that they are paying wages in those departments below the Trade Union rate.
§ MR. J. H. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy Burghs)Is there any understanding that the printing referred to is carried out in London?
§ SIR J. T. HIBBERTYes, I think so.