§ Mr. JOWETTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Messrs. Jas. Harper and Sons, Ravenscliffe Mills, Calverley, near Leeds, claim to be allowed to pay a differential rate of wages for willeyers and fettlers; if he is aware that where rates of wages are arranged between employers and workpeople for this work the rates for both these processes are alike, and if the latter mode of payment is one which in practice prevails among good employers within the meaning of the Fair-Wages Clause; if it is, whether he will take steps to enforce it; and if he will state in what respect the general industrial circumstances prevailing in Leeds, which is very near to Messrs. Jas. Harper and Sons' mills, where a rate of wages for willeying and fettlingrecognised between employers' and workpeople's associations, differ so as to justify him in allowing Messrs. Jas. Harper and Sons to tender as complying with the Fair-Wages Clause, although they only pay 5½d. per hour for fettling and 5¼d. for willeying, whilst Leeds firms pay 6d. per hour for ordinary time for both jobs?
§ Colonel SEELYNothing is known of the complaints in connection with the firm of J. Harper and Sons, of Calverley, but if the hon. Member refers to Messrs. T. and H. Harper, of Apperley Bridge, I must refer him to the answer given to his question on 27th April.