§ Mr. O'GRADY (Leeds, E.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the firm of Thomas R. Scott and Company, Dublin, have a contract for map-cases and library furniture for the Office of Public Works, Dublin, and that the contract is being carried out by boy labour; whether he is aware that the matter has been investigated by the officers of the Public Works Department, on a complaint lodged by the Dublin branch of the Furnishing Trades Association, and that the reply to such complaint was that the boys engaged on the contract were fully competent to execute the work given; whether he is aware that no other firm of cabinet-makers in Dublin would adopt such a system; and whether, having regard to this unfair competition affecting others firms as well as artisans, he will make representations to the Office of Public Works so that this and other contracts may be carried out under trade union conditions.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am informed by the Board of Works that the contract referred to is being carried out by skilled men, who work at the cabinet-making machines. The firm, however, employs apprentices and no doubt this fact explains the hon. Member's statements. I understand, however, that the employment of apprentices is quite common in the trade, and that the hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that this firm stands alone in this respect. The boys, moreover, are only given the simpler kinds of work such as they are fully competent to execute and such as 854 they must do if they are to learn their trade.