§ MR. CHANNING (Northamptonshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the strike now going on in Northamptonshire among the Army boot operatives is due to the setting aside by certain contracting firms of the statement of wages agreed to by representatives of the manufacturers and of the Boot and Shoe Operatives Union; and that it is alleged on the part of the union that the statement of wages thus agreed to and submitted to the War Office represents a reduction of from 7 to 13 per cent. on the corresponding payments accepted as current after the close 64 of the war under previous contracts; that it is alleged on behalf of the union that certain firms who have obtained contracts this year have been giving out or offering the work at prices representing a loss to the worker ranging from 3d. and 5d. per pair of boots to 7d. and 10d. as compared with the corresponding prices agreed to in the statement; and that ankle Blucher Army boots have been given out by one of these firms to women for closing at 1s. per dozen, whereas the statement price for this operation is 2s. 6d. and whether this represents an average wage to these women of 6s. a week instead of 15s. a week; and whether, having regard to the undertaking of the secretary of the trade union to make good these allegations if an inquiry is held, he will forthwith direct an inquiry to be made into them; and, if the facts are established, take steps to enforce the fair wage clause of the Government contracts.
§ * MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTThe War Department is aware of the fact and allegations referred to in the hon. Member's Question. The duty of the Department, however, in matters relating to wages is limited to securing the strict observance of the Wages Resolution, which is incorporated in all its contracts, and stipulates that the wages paid shall be those generally accepted as current in each trade for competent workmen in the district where the work is carried out. So far as concern the men who are on strike, it would appear to be impossible for the Department to insist upon a particular rate being fixed as current at a moment when such a rate is precisely the matter in dispute. With reference to the latter portion of the hon. Member's Question, in which he indicates what appears to be the payment of a very low rate of wage in a particular case, if he will kindly furnish me or cause me to be furnished with the necessary information, I will at once cause an inquiry to be made with a view to ascertaining whether any action I can properly be taken in accordance with the terms of the current rate clause of the contract.
§ MR. CHANNINGAm I to understand that if proper representations—giving names and prices, are made to the War 65 Office, not merely in respect of these cases but of others in which the wages are said to be below the current standard, the hon. Gentleman will cause inquiry to be made?
§ * MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTCertainly, if there is any reason to suppose that the wages are below the rates accepted as current in the district.
§ MR. CHANNINGWill the hon. Gentleman give special attention to the fact that the trades union guarantee the accuracy of the figures they have given?
§ MR. GEORGE WHITE (Norfolk, N. W.)Is it not a fact that a statement of wages is agreed upon and that the contracts are based on it, so that it is easy to find out on what basis of wages the contracts are taken?
§ * MR. BROMLEY DAVENPORTIf that statement were accepted throughout the district as the current rate the War Department would be bound by it. But we are not at present in a position to say that it is so accepted.