§ 4. Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the position of saddlers employed in His Majesty's dockyards; whether he is aware that while smiths, carpenters, wheel- 371 wrights, and labourers were all advanced on the 21st October, 1914, no advance was made in the case of the saddlers, whose wages still remain at 28s., exclusive of the War bonus; whether he can say on what ground the exception was made; and will he consider the amendment of the rates in the case of the saddlers so as to remove the present inequality?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere is no class of workmen rated as saddlers in His Majesty's dockyards. If, as I assume, the hon. Member refers to leather hose makers, I can only say, as I indicated in the reply which I gave to him on 10th March, that the case of this class was fully considered prior to the issue of the replies to petitions at the beginning of the present year. As I pointed out, until 1908 these men were classified as skilled labourers. In that year it was approved to put them in a separate class on the then maximum rate for skilled labourers, namely, 28s. a week, for hired men. Later, special rates up to 30s. were approved, and in 1912 the maximum special rate was made 31s. As the hon. Member indicates in his question, they have since received the emergency increase granted in connection with the award of the Committee on Production, and it is not contemplated to make any further advance.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean to imply that these men should be satisfied with a change in name and position that carries with it no rise in pay?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI mentioned the rises in the skilled labour case because the leather hose maker follows it.