HC Deb 21 November 1917 vol 99 cc1178-9
62. Mr. ADAMSON

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in setting up under the Corn Production Act the district wages committees for Scotland, he is aware that a number of organisations which have been requested to nominate representatives of workers in agriculture are purely friendly societies for health insurance purposes; that the Scottish Farm Servants' Union is the only industrial organisation in Scotland whose function it is to improve and safeguard the economic and industrial interest of the workers in agriculture; and whether he will see that the Scottish Farm Servants' Union will be given the necessary facilities to nominate representatives for the district wages committees, as contemplated when the Act was before this House?

Mr. MUNRO

I think that my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. Friendly societies have not been asked to nominate representatives of agricultural workers for the purpose referred to, but merely to co-operate with other bodies in convening meetings representative of farm workers. I am informed that the Scottish Farm Servants' Union is in correspondence with the Rural Workers' Friendly Society with this object in view. I may add that this union is the only workers' association, so far, approved by the Board of Agriculture for Scotland, for the purpose of selecting workers' representatives on district wages committees, and it has been given all facilities for this purpose.

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