HC Deb 06 July 1911 vol 27 cc1318-9
Mr. KEIR HARDIE

asked the Undersecretary for India whether he is aware that many of the workmen employed by Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold on the rail-bank at their Dowlais works in connection with the firm's contract with the India Office for rails for the Indian State railways are earning less than 20s. a week, some being paid as low as 1s. l0d. a day, whilst neighbouring competing firms pay wages from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. higher; and what action he proposes taking to compel this firm to pay fair wages to their workmen under the provisions of the Fair-Wages Clause?

Mr. MONTAGU

My hon. Friend has been kind enough to supply me with the detailed information on which he bases his allegations, and inquiry will at once be made into the matter. Perhaps my hon. Friend will repeat his question next week.

Mr. EDGAR JONES

Will the hon. Member ask the Secretary of State to send down an inspector to see all the persons concerned, as it is very difficult to get at the truth by correspondence, and we may be in the same position as we have been up to the present?

Mr. MONTAGU

I think something-more than correspondence will be necessary; but the Secretary of State has received very full information from the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil (Mr. Keir Hardie).

Mr. KEIR HARDIE

had given notice of the following question: To ask the Undersecretary of State for India whether he can explain the circumstances under which the firm of Guest, Keen, and Nettle-fold are allowed to stamp iron sleepers with the words: Indian State Railways; whether these sleepers are for the use of the Government of India, or for what purpose are they made? I do not propose to ask this question. I have received information that this contract is for a private firm, and not for the Government.

Mr. KEIR HARDIE

asked the Undersecretary of State for India (1) whether he is aware that the standards and rolls for turning out rails for the India Office rails contract with Guest, Keen and Nettlefold at their Dowlais works are made by moulders, and that without these the rails could not be made; whether, under these circumstances, he will insist upon the firm complying with the provisions of the Fair-Wages Clause and pay their moulders 6s. per day, as is done by other works in the district for the same class of work; and (2) whether he is aware that the moulders now on strike at Dowlais, and who were employed at wages ranging from 2s. l1d. to 3s. 8d. per day, were performing work connected with the making of steel rails for the Indian Government; and whether he will inform the firm of Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold that unless the terms of the Fair-Wages Clause in respect to wages and conditions of employment are complied with he will have their name removed from the list of Government contractors?

Mr. MONTAGU

The Fair-Wages Resolution as interpreted by the Government Departments concerned does not extend to the manufacture of plant or tools used only partly in fulfilling Government contracts. If my hon. Friend dissents from this interpretation I will undertake to lay his contention before the Fair-Wages Committee.