§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Postmaster-General whether he can now state the result of his inquiries concerning the hours of labour of the farriers employed by Messrs. Charles Webster, Limited, mail contractors?
§ Captain NORTON (for Mr. Sydney Buxton)The inquiries made by the Board of Trade show that the hours of labour of the farriers employed by Messrs. Chas. Webster, Ltd., are such as fulfil the 1644 requirements of the Fair Wages Clause in their contract. My right hon. Friend has, however, already given notice to terminate this contract at the end of next June. Thereafter the contractors will be bound by the conditions of the new Fair Wages Clause, and the farriers they employ will have appreciably shorter hours.