§ CAPTAIN DONELANI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the labourers employed in the Army Ordnance Depart- 144 ment at Haulbowline only receive 16s. per week; and whether, in view of the fact that at no other station is so low a rate paid, the War Office will consider the desirability of raising the scale of wages at Haulbowline to the standard fixed for labourers at the Naval side of the Island?
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (Mr. POWELL WILLIAMS, Birmingham, S.)There are labourers employed in the Ordnance Store Department at Athlone, Carrickfergus and Enniskillen who are paid at the rate of 16s. a week. From inquiries which have been made it appears that this is the rate current in the districts named for the class of labour referred to.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANMay I ask whether so low a rate as 16s. is paid by any other public department?
§ MR. POWELL WILLIAMSFrom inquiry made, it appeared that 16 shillings is the rate current in the districts for labour of the kind employed by the War Department.
§ CAPTAIN DONELANIs the honourable Member aware that these labourers have to row themselves backwards and forwards to their work, as they live on the mainland?
§ MR. POWELL WILLIAMSIf they are employed on an island I suppose that would be so.
§ MR J. WILSON (Durham, Mid.)Is it not the practice to regulate wages by those current in the district?
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order‡ The honourable Member is now raising a general question.