§ 65. Lieut.-Colonel HILDERasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to a letter written by a large firm of builders had contractors, and published by a daily newspaper on the 19th instant, which in effect states that, owing to the action of certain trades unions, their building of cottages has been seriously delayed and in some cases entirely stopped; and, if so, what action does he propose to take?
§ Sir R. HORNEI have been asked to answer this question. My attention has been drawn to the statements made by the firms in question to the effect that, owing to the action of certain trade unions, there has been refusal to erect houses which have been constructed in the firm's works under a system whereby the men receive a bonus on output. I am in communication with the firm with a view to obtaining particulars of the cases in which workpeople have refused to erect houses, so that the matter may be further examined.
I may add that for some time the Government have had under consideration, as part of the general question of the urgent need for increasing production, especially in connection with the erection of houses, the question of the advantage to the community of arrangements whereby workpeople are placed upon systems of payment by results, and it is proposed to set up a Committee to enquire into, and report upon, the whole matter.