§ MR. MACVEAGH (Down, S.)I beg-to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called 542 to the effects of the system of procuring economical labour for the various Departments of the Civil Service in London, by the formation of the class of boy writers, who, when dismissed at the age of twenty years, find difficulty in obtaining employment in commercial firms by reason of their training; and, seeing that the majority of these boy writers are drawn from Ireland, and have only wages of 14s. a week at present for their maintenance in London, whether he will consider the advisability of giving these youths increased wages and of providing them with subsequent employment after they have attained the age of 20 years.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.I am not aware that the training of boy copyists stands in the way of their subsequent employment by private firms. Less than 25 per cent. continue to serve till the age limit of twenty, and of these a large portion subsequently enter the permanent service, owing to their privilege of competing at a later age than other candidates. I think the minimum pay of 14s. a week rather low. It has already been decided to raise it to 15s.