§ MR. SUMMERBELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset hire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can state the salaries and allowances, if any, of the director, assistant director, and curator of the Royal Gardens at Kew.
§ THE TREASURER OF THE HOUSEHOLD (Sir EDWARD STRACHEY, Somersetshire, S.)The salary of the Director is £1,000 per annum, with residence rent free; that of the Assistant Director is £500—£20—£700 per annum, and that 1580 of the Curator is £300—£10—£100 per annum with residence rent free.
§ MR. SUMMERBELLThen I can take it there is no other remnneration?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYYes.
§ MR. SUMMERBELLI beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somersetshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he can state whether the men employed as gardeners in the Royal Gardens at Kew do the whole of the practical work in cultivation of the plant collections under glass, and also a large proportion of the hardy groups; whether the hours of such men are from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in summer, and from daylight to dark in winter; and whether it is the intention of the Government to increase the pay of such men from 21s. per week to 24s. per week, as is paid to the labourers.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe duties and hours of work of the gardeners at Kew are practically as stated in the Question. They are employed on the average of the whole year for fifty-four and-a-half hours a week. Their work is, of course, done under close supervision. The amount of their pay was recently the subject of careful consideration, and it was decided that, regard being had to the advantages obtained by these young men from their training at Kew, the sum of 21s. a week is sufficient to attract the class of men required and to provide them with adequate means of subsistence.
§ MR. SUMMERBELLIs it not the fact that large numbers of men who have been working at Kew for twenty years are at present out of employment?
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYI should like notice of that.