§ Mr. CLYNESasked the President of the Board of Trade, concerning the refusal of the local authority at Dudley to approve the establishment of a Labour Exchange, what action his Department proposes to take in such cases; and whether the regulations will provide for exchanges being efficiently worked in cases where local authorities may decline to assist them?
Mr. TENNANTThe Labour Exchanges Bill empowers the Board of Trade to establish and maintain exchanges "in such places as they think fit," and, although the Board may co-operate with other authorities such co-operation is not essential to the establishment of any Labour Exchange. I hope that in all cases Labour Exchanges established by the Board of Trade will be efficiently worked.
§ Mr. JOWETTasked the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to publish particulars relating to the appointments it will be necessary to make for the organisation of a system of Labour Exchanges; and, if so, whether he will allow a reasonable interval of time to elapse, after publishing the said particulars, before the applications are dealt with, in order to give reasonable opportunity for persons possessing the necessary qualifications to apply?
Mr. TENNANTThe appointments referred to by the hon. Gentleman are as follows:—
The Committee of Selection is expected to commence work towards the end of next month.
- 1. Superintendents of Class "A" Exchanges, with a salary of £250 to £350.
- 2. Superintendents of Class "B" Exchanges, with a salary of £200 to £250.
- 3. Superintendents of Class "C" Exchanges, with a salary of £150 to £200.
- 4. Superintendents of sub-offices, with a salary of £100 to £150.
218 - 5. Registration clerks at somewhat lower salaries.
§ Mr. LUPTONIs it not possible to get perfectly competent men at salaries of £2 a week?
Mr. TENNANTNo; I think £250 a year is not an excessive salary for persons who will have considerable demands made upon them, and persons who require to be of high character.
§ Mr. LUPTONIs it not the fact that a mining manager gets only £2 to £4 a week for most responsible work?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNotice should be given of that.
§ Mr. JEREMIAH MacVEAGHWill these appointments be filled by patronage or by competitive examination.
Mr. TENNANTNo; they will not be filled by competitive examination. They will be filled by the selection of a Committee, of which notice has already been given to the House.