§ 39. Mr. DEVLINasked the names and qualifications of the members of the Belfast Trade Board; when were they appointed, and by whom; how many meetings they have held, and the dates of those meetings; what action they have taken with regard to the sweated workers in the mills and factories in Belfast; whether any correspondence has passed between them and the Board of Trade; and, if so, whether such correspondence will be published?
Mr. ROBERTSI presume that the hon. Member refers to the Linen and Cotton Embroidery Trade Board (Ireland). The Trade Board, which was established on 8th May last, consists of seven representatives of employers other than sub-contractors, five representatives of sub-contractors, and twelve representatives of workers, together with three appointed members, who are impartial persons unconnected with the trade and appointed by the Board of Trade. The representative members were selected by the Board of Trade after considering names supplied by employers and workers respectively. The employers' representatives are all employers in the trade; of the workers' representatives ten are actual workers; one is the secretary of the Women Textile Operatives' Union, and one is president of the Lurgan Hemmers' and Veiners' Union. I am sending a list of the members to my hon. Friend. I am informed by the chairman that the Trade Board and its consultative committee have held seven meetings, the dates of which I will communicate to my hon. Friend. A formal proposal to fix minimum time-rates ranging from 2½d. to3¼d. per hour and also minimum piece-rates for certain operations will be issued by the Trade Board on 8th January. The majority of the workpeople affected are home-workers, of whom a very considerable number belong to county Down and county Donegal. There has been no correspondence between the Board of Trade and the Trade Board with regard to the work of the latter.