§ 55. Major BIRCHALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the wages, including bonus, if any, paid to hoys of 14 to 15 employed by the Government in the Ministry of Health and the Post Office; and what wages are paid to hoys of the same age employed in the District Messenger Service?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Hilton Young)The wages, including bonus, of boy messengers, aged 14 to 15, employed by the Post Office in London are at present 21s. 3d. a week. One boy messenger of this age is employed in the Ministry of Health, at a wage, including bonus, of 23s. 11d. a week. These amounts will be subject to a substantial reduction on 1st September next. I am not in a position to state what wages are paid to boys of the same age in the District Messenger Service.
§ Major BIRCHALLWould it surprise the hon. Member to know that the boys in the District Messenger Service get wages of 9s. rising to 11s. at the age of 15 years? Why is it necessary to pay boys in Government offices doing similar work twice as much and even more?
§ Mr. YOUNGI am not in a position to know exactly what are the wages and 1066 conditions of working in the District Messenger Service, and I should require to investigate the conditions before I could reply to the question.
§ Colonel ASHLEYIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the great indignation amongst agricultural labourers with a wife and large family to support in view of the enormous sums paid to boys by Government Departments?
§ Sir J. BUTCHERWhy should not the wages be revised before September next.
§ Mr. YOUNGMy hon. and learned Friend has evidently not borne in mind the answer I gave on that subject not very long ago, namely, that the dates of revision are fixed in the terms of the original agreement for the War bonus?
§ Mr. HODGEIs there any reason why the Government should sweat boys because private companies do so?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is arguing the question.