§ 84. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the watchers in the Customs and Excise Departments have received no increase in wages since July, 1894, when the wages were advanced from 3s. 6d. to 4s. per day; if he is aware that the good 2272 conduct allowance of 2s. granted in 1912 is not paid if the men have the slightest complaint made against them; if he is aware that when they are working overtime for the Crown they are paid at the rate of 6d. per hour, and that when the men are working for the merchants they are paid 8d. per hour and the Government charge the merchants 9d.; if he is aware that since the men received the last advance in wages the cost of living has been increased by at least 50 per cent.; and if, in consequence of the low wage paid to the men, he can see his way clear to recommend any advance, the same that has been paid in all other Government Departments?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe class of Customs watchers was not constituted until August, 1896, when the wages were fixed at 21s. a week for an attendance of fifty-four hours. The attendance is now forty-eight hours a week, the wages are 24s. in London and 21s. in the outports, with one-quarter of the latter rising to 24s. a week. Uniforms are provided gratis. In addition a good conduct allowance of is: a week is given after five years' service, and another after ten years' service, and it is not the fact that they are withheld for trivial reasons. The overtime rate is invariably 7d. an hour, and any attendance given at night counts towards the weekly total for overtime purposes in the proportion of six hours counting as seven. The charge against the merchant for watchers' services is 8d. an hour, but this also includes the cost of supervision and night allowance, if any. On the question of an increase of pay to meet the increased cost of living, I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 12th January last.
§ Mr. CROOKSIs the right hon. Gentleman sending these men the pamphlet on thrift?