§ 19. Mr. JOHN WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has instructed Labour Exchange managers when recruiting labour for the Government works at Rosyth to state that there is ample and cheap housing accommodation in the district; and, if so, can he give his authority for such a statement?
Mr. ROBERTSONNo, Sir. The only communication made to Labour Exchange managers on the subject of housing 1311 accommodation available in the Rosyth district was a statement furnished to them in September, 1912, of the number of model lodging houses.
§ Mr. J. WARDIt is particularly stated that those are only model lodging-houses and "doss" houses for tramps and casuals?
§ Mr. J. WARDDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that the Labour Exchange really mislead these men by giving the information about housing when as a matter of fact for decent workmen there is no housing accommodation there at all?
§ 20. Mr. J. WARDasked whether the Sutton Labour Exchange manager has recruited labour for the Government dock works at Rosyth by telling the men that the wages were 5½d., 6d., and 6½d. per hour, and that all forms of labour on these Government works were paid big bonuses in addition to their wages; whether this manager also prevailed upon a private resident at Sutton to pay the fares of these men to Rosyth; and, if so, can he explain why his Department uses such inducements to secure a supply of cheap labour in the Rosyth district?
Mr. ROBERTSONIn accordance with the usual practice, the terms and conditions of work at Rosyth, as stated by the employers, were communicated to applicants for such work at the Sutton and other Labour Exchanges. I understand that there is no foundation for the statement that an attempt has been made by the manager of that Exchange to prevail upon a private resident at Sutton to pay the fares of any men who have proceeded to Rosyth. An offer to advance fares was, however, made by a private resident on his own initiative.
§ 22. Mr. J. WARDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the successful termination of the nineteen weeks' strike of the navvies employed on the sewer at Rosyth, by which the contractors agreed to pay a minimum of 6d. per hour; whether the Government is now the only employer in 1312 that district who pays navvies and labourers less than 6d. per hour; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to comply with the Fair-Wage Resolution of the House of Commons?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)I only know of the strike to which my hon. Friend refers through the Press reports. As regards the rates paid to navvies and labourers engaged on Admiralty work, no information has been received to justify any departure from our view, endorsed last October by the Fair-Wages Advisory Committee, namely, that the generally accepted minimum rate current in the district for competent workmen is 5½d. an hour.
§ Mr. J. WARDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his own contractors are now the only people paying that rate now that this last firm, which paid less than sixpence, is now paying that rate?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI know that last October the Fair-Wages Advisory Committee conducted an entirely independent inquiry, and stated that in their view 5½d. was the generally accepted minimum rate current. If any change has taken place since then the matter shall be looked into.
§ Mr. J. WARDThis is the change that I wish the right hon. Gentleman to inquire about, namely, whether it is not the fact that this one firm now having agreed to pay this rate, the right hon. Gentleman's own contractors are now the only people who do not pay the sixpence? That is the new fact.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAIf that is so, I will inquire. What I have to do is to see that the contractor pays the rate current, and I will do so.