§ 70. Mr. SHORTasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether there are under consideration any proposals for increasing the wages of Government messengers to the level paid by private employers for similar work; whether the men's representatives have asked for a conference to discuss this matter; and whether he will grant the interview desired with a view to arriving at a settlement of the question?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)The present remuneration of unestablished messengers in 1340 Government Departments was fixed by the Conciliation and Arbitration Board after a full hearing of the claim made by the Workers' Union on their behalf. As the decision of the Board is binding upon both parties, I am not prepared to reopen the matter, but I cannot admit that the rates so fixed compare at all unfavourably with those paid by private employers to messengers engaged on similar duties.