§ MAJOR EVANS - GORDON (Tower Hamlets, Stepney)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the men employed in the lyddite sheds at the Royal Arsenal are paid by piece work or by time, and whether he can give the number of men employed in the shed in which the recent accident took place and the rate of wages they received.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThe men are paid by piece work on the fellowship plan, by which the earnings of the whole gang are pooled and shared. There were nine men in the compartment in which the explosion took place; the other men killed were in or about the other compartments of the building. Their average wages range from 36s to 38s. 8d. a week, according to their ratings.
§ MAJOR EVANS - GORDONDoes my right hon. friend propose to put a stop to what seems to be the dangerous practice of paying men employed on this kind of work at piece and fellowship rates?
§ MR. BRODRICKI answered a Question as to that the other day.† I said the whole question was receiving careful consideration.