§ 24. Mr. TOOTILLasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the guardians of the Salford Union have again refused to pay their officers the Civil Service scale of war bonus and have decided not to submit the disputed matter to arbitration; and whether he will state what course the officers should take to enable them to obtain the award of war bonus sanctioned by the Local Government Board in their circular letter to boards of guardians?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am informed that the guardians of the Salford Union have not yet come to a decision on the question of submitting this matter to arbitration, but are meeting on the 4th instant to consider the Report of the Committee to which the question was referred. In these circumstances the second part of the question does not arise.
§ 88. Mr. TOOTILLasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the guardians of the Salford Union have again refused to pay to their workpeople the Civil Service scale of war bonuses; whether he is also aware that the persistent refusal of the guardians to grant their officers' claims is causing widespread disaffection in the Union, and may result in drastic action being resorted to unless immediate steps are taken to remedy the grievances; and whether the 1177 Board will now exercise the power conferred upon them by Section 46, c. 76, of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1834, which gives the Board power to regulate the amount of salaries payable to officers employed by boards of guardians?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Major Astor)My right hon. Friend has not yet been informed by the Salford guardians of the result of the further consideration given by them to the subject. The powers of the Local Government Board under Section 46 of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1834, even if they could properly be exercised in the manner which the hon. Member presumably has in view, would not meet the case, as they do not extend to the salaries of more than a limited portion of the guardians' staff.