1. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the firm of Davidson and Company, Sirocco Works, Belfast, are contractors to the Admiralty; if so, whether he is aware that adult male labour is employed by the firm at the rate of 16s. per week, and that a boy doing important work is in receipt of 8s. a week; whether he is aware that each labourer is called upon to sign a form declaring that he is not a member of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union or any similar unskilled labourers' society or union, and that so long as he is employed by the firm he will not join or become a member of any such unskilled labourers' society; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter and secure strict conformity with the Fair-Wages Clause?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)A complaint of the nature indicated in the question has been received. The matter is being investigated.
§ 7. Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the result of the further inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by the Portland Cement manufacturers?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe further inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair-Wages Clause has been completed, with the following result: At the Wickham Cement Works, Strood, it is considered that the Fair-Wages Clause is being adhered to. With regard to White's Works, Swanscombe, and Bevan's Works, Northfleet, thirty-four and thirty-one men, respectively, between the ages of twenty and fifty, were found to be receiving less than the minimum rate of 5d. per hour, plus 5 per cent. These numbers include partially-disabled men, and only twenty-four men at White's Works and nineteen men at Bevan's Works were considered cases in which the Fair-Wages Clause was not being strictly adhered to. The whole of these cases have been brought to the notice of the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited.
8. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked whether the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty is aware that the firm of Morrison and Mason, who are carrying out a dock extension at Portsmouth for the Admiralty, insist upon the carpenters and other skilled workmen employed by them on this contract working 2½ hours per week more than the recognised hours of the district, and that they refuse to pay overtime rate for the extra hours worked; and whether he will instruct this firm to comply with the conditions that obtain in the district?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am in communication with the Fair-Wages Advisory Committee in regard to the matter. Further, as I shall be in Portsmouth myself this week-end, I propose to go into the matter on the spot.