HC Deb 23 April 1913 vol 52 cc363-4
93. Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCK

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the low wages prevalent in the trade of tea packing, coffee and cocoa packing, and biscuit making, and also to the variations in the wages paid for similar work; and whether he will include these trades in the operation of the Trades Boards Act?

Mr. BUXTON

I fully recognise that the trades which I have indicated my intention of including in the Provisional Order about to be made extending the application of the Trade Boards Act are not the only ones which it may be ultimately desirable to bring under the Act. I am giving the matter careful consideration, but I doubt whether it is expedient in the present Order to add to the trades which have already been selected.

Mr. JOHN WARD

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of placing the navvies employed by Government Departments under the Trades Boards Act?

Mr. BUXTON

I am afraid I cannot reply to that question.