§ Dr. ADDISONasked whether Messrs. Priddy and Hale, case-makers, of Wood-field Road, made census boxes under contract for the Government; if so, what rate of wages was paid to the male case makers employed in their manufacture; whether any of the cases were made by girl labour; and what is the rate of wages paid to the girls; and how do these rates of wages compare with those paid by good employers to members of the City Case-makers Society?
Mr. DUDLEY WARDThe census boxes were made for the Local Government Board under contract with the Commissioners of Works by Messrs. Priddy and Hale. The rates of wages paid were from 7d. to 8d. per hour, and, as there was no-skilled labour entailed in the work, which was of the simplest description, the wages were considered not unsatisfactory. So far as the First Commissioner is aware no female labour was employed in the construction of the boxes. The foregoing rates of wages compare favourably with those paid by good employers of this class of labour. It has been ascertained that the minimum rate in the rules of the London Wood and Tin Packing Case Maker's Trade Society for woodmen is 8½d. per hour, and for tinmen 8d. per hour. It is not possible to make any such comparison as that mentioned in the question