§ 37. Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is a feeling amongst the discharged soldiers in Shropshire against the high wages given to Finns working on timber in this country; can he say what wages these men are receiving; and whether there are discharged soldiers who could be employed and who are now out of employment?
§ Mr. WARDLEBy arrangement with the National Sailors' and Firemen's 985 Union, a certain number of Finns, mostly seamen from torpedoed ships, have been engaged by the Timber Supply Department, under contract, at wages of 9d. per hour, in addition to food and hutting; this is less than seaman's wages. These men are well fitted for timber work, both physically and by early training in their own country. Any discharged soldiers capable of doing timber work, which is heavy, should have no difficulty in finding employment, and I am not aware of the dissatisfaction referred to.