§ MR. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty what were the wages per week of the men who have been displaced in the Devonport Dockyard by the women who are now employed at polishing and upholstering; and what is the result of the experiment in female labour in the trades named, both as regards cost and efficiency, as against the labour of the men displaced.
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONThe Dockyard officers report that the men displaced by the women who are now employed at polishing were joiners, and were actually receiving, if established, 31s., and if hired, 32s. 6d. per week. The men displaced by the women upholstering wore skilled labourers, and actually receiving an average of 23s. 4½d. per week. In regard to upholstering, there has been considerably more work turned out since female labour was employed than was formerly done by the men, and in quality the work has been at least equally good. In regard to polishing, the work has been equal in quantity and superior in quality to that turned out by the men.
§ MR. O'GRADYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that for the money received for this upholstering, one cannot expect good work, as it is something like 8s. below the proper amount?
§ MR. EDMUND ROBERTSONI know nothing about that.