§ 29. Sir K. FRASERasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that, in spite of the fact that the cost of living is declining, some of the Trade Boards are proposing to increase the existing minimum rates, the effect of which will be further to increase unemployment?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo Trade Board has passed any substantial proposal to increase rates of wages since November last, when the Ready-made and Wholesale Bespoke Tailoring Trade Board passed the proposal to which I refer in my answer to another question of my hon. and gallant Friend. A number of proposals, however, issued before that date, are still under consideration by various Trade Boards which, when the proposals came before them in due course after the expiry of the period of two months provided by the Acts for public advertisement, agreed to postpone any decision. The general charge that Trade Board Orders have caused considerable unemployment has been frequently made. I have invariably asked for examples, and I have myself caused enquiries to be made into any specific cases to which my attention has been drawn. With the exception of certain juveniles in the dressmaking and millinery trades, I have not received specific cases bearing out the allegations, and, in fact, the learners' rates in the dressmaking and millinery trades are being revised by the Trade Boards concerned.