24. Colonel NEWMANasked the Minister of Labour whether in connection with the League of Nations there has been established any labour section which takes cognisance from an international standpoint of wages, cost of living, and industrial conditions generally; if so, will he say if in the United States of America there has during the past six months been any reduction in the wages paid to those engaged in leading industries, including mining and transport; and what has been the fall in the cost of living in the United States during the past six months?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, Sir. The functions referred to have been assigned to the International Labour Office set up at Geneva under Part XIII of the Treaty of Versailles. As regards the second part of the question, the statistical materials needed for a precise answer covering the last six months have not yet been published either by the International Labour Office or the United States Department of Labour. It is possible, however, from information in the possession of the Ministry of Labour to state that in the second half of 1920 the cost of living fell by percentages ranging from 4½ to 9 in the large industrial centres, and that during the same period wages were reduced in a number of the leading manufacturing industries by percentages ranging from 10 to 35. Neither mining nor transport would appear to have been affected by wage reductions during 1920. Since the beginning of the present year, however, the principal railway companies 1856 in the United States have submitted proposals for reductions in wages, which are at present the subject of discussion. Except as regards metalliferous mines in one or two districts, no reductions have been announced for the mining industry.
Colonel NEWMANCan the right hon. Gentleman have information like this published every month in the "Labour Gazette"
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have not got the information from the International Labour Office. I have given the hon. and gallant Gentleman such information as I have in my possession.
Sir J. D. REESWhat is the connection between the industrial and economic situation in the United States and the League of Nations, which it utterly repudiates?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe hon. Gentleman had better look at the Convention setting up the International Labour Office.
Sir J. D. REESHow can the right hon. Gentleman correlate this office they are going to set up with a great nation that entirely repudiates it?