§ Mr. FIELD (by Private Notice)asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a report of a representative meeting held in Dublin on Tuesday night, organised by the Women's Civic Union, and resolutions passed regarding the grave situation arising from low wages and high prices, food scarcity, and widespread distress; whether he can state what measures the Government propose to meet this serious emergency; and whether he will immediately establish a wages board for Dublin City?
§ Mr. DUKEI recently made close inquiries as to conditions in Dublin, and was satisfied that a certain amount of distress which existed was being efficiently dealt with by existing agencies, and that some exaggeration of this distress had been made. I am in further communication with the Local Government Board, Ireland, about the statements to which the question refers. I have no power to establish a wages board in Dublin, and I 2586 am not satisfied that such a board would effect the object my hon. Friend has in view.
§ Mr. FIELDWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries about a wages board, because resolutions have been passed by several public bodies in Dublin requesting its establishment, and if it has been established in other directions, why not in Dublin?
§ Mr. DUKEThere is a proposal in a Bill before the House for wages boards for agricultural labourers, but I do not know of any others proposed by legislation.