§ Mr. T. M. HEALYasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the wages of the labourers and gardeners employed under the Irish Board of Works will be raised as from 1st April, 1910; whether the contractors under the Board are bound by the Pair Wages Resolution to pay over 20s. a week to the labourers they employ; whether the contractors' labourers work Bide by side with those of the Board; and whether the latter receive only 15s. or 16s. a week?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe answer to the first, second, and third parts of the question is in the negative. The building contractors' men do not work side by side with the park labourers. The latter are employed on the roads and as garden hands, and the rates allowed vary from 15s. to 18s. per week. I am informed that these rates compare favourably with those paid for similar work outside, especially in view of the fact that there is no broken time in the case of the Board's men, who are also entitled to sick pay, pay for holidays, and a gratuity on retirement.