§ 59. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture how many cases have been proved where farmers have deliberately refused to pay the wages which have been settled by wage committees; how many farmers have been proceeded against for evading these decisions; and, seeing that this section
Mr. WOODThe reason was partly financial, but also that the machinery was immediately available with which to start operating this season.
§ Following is the statement promised:
§ who evade the law are a menace to the better type of farmer, will he insist on prosecutions wherever evasions are discovered?
Mr. WOODAs I informed the hon. Member on the 9th instant, a number of complaints of payment of wages at less than the minimum rates have been investigated by the inspectors appointed for the purpose, but it is impracticable to state the number of cases, if any, where the non-payment could be said to amount to a deliberate refusal. In many cases it is clear that on each side there has been misunderstanding which investigation has served to remove, and in others there is not sufficient evidence to prove that infringement of the rates has taken place. If any cases of deliberate refusal to pay minimum wages occurred, I should, of course, immediately authorise legal proceedings, and, as stated in my previous reply, proceedings are already being taken in cases where the circumstances warrant such action.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSBut surely the right hon. Gentleman will know that there are 23 thousands of cases where farmers have deliberately refused to pay the wages settled by the wage committees; is he not aware that any evasion at all is a breaking of the law; and would he apply similar treatment to any farm labourer who broke the law that he is now applying to farmers who are constantly breaking it?
Mr. WOODI think the shortest and best answer I can give to the hon. Gentleman is that, if he has any case in which he is satisfied that a prosecution will lie, where I have not instituted one, I invite him to bring it to me.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSHas the right hon. Gentleman not already stated, in reply to a previous question, that cases have been discovered where the farmers have not complied with decisions of the committees, and does he not think that, in those cases, where misunderstanding has not crept in, it is a deliberate breach of the law and ought to be dealt with?
Mr. WOODI really cannot add anything to what I have said, that where I am satisfied that a case lies, I shall institute proceedings. If the hon. Member does not believe me, I can carry it no further.
§ 60. Mr. WILLIAMSalso asked the Minister of Agriculture how many youths working on the land at Epworth, near Doncaster, are in receipt of the wages which have been settled by the Lincolnshire wages committee; what steps he has taken, if any, to ascertain whether correct wages are paid in this and other similar districts where men and boys are disorganised; and how the decisions of the wages committees are being advertised?
Mr. WOODI have no information to show that the wages paid in the district mentioned are not in accordance with the minimum rates fixed by the Agricultural Wages Committee. With regard to the second part of the question, the inspectors appointed under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act are constantly engaged in making investigations on farms in various parts of the country with a view to ascertaining whether the minimum rates are being duly observed. The Orders made by the Agricultural Wages Board giving effect to the decisions of the Agricultural Wages Committees fixing minimum rates are advertised in the local 24 Press and copies are distributed to the organisations of farmers and farm workers. Posters giving the main details of the Orders are exhibited in the Employment Exchanges and rural post offices throughout the areas.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that in certain agricultural areas no notice has been given of the wages fixed by the county committee, and that at Epworth, near Doncaster, of 14 persons whom I saw personally a week ago, not one was receiving the wages settled by the Lincolnshire county committee, and will he ask one of his inspectors to investigate cases of this description, where the workers are in any way disorganised and fear to ask for the wages to which they are entitled?
Captain CROOKSHANKIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Epwortn has a weekly newspaper in which this information is given?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSBut they are not getting the money.
Mr. WOODI will certainly have the investigation for which the hon. gentleman asks made, but my information is exactly that of the hon. and gallant Member for Gainsborough (Captain Crook-shank), to the effect that these advertisements have been inserted in the press, and it is obviously neither the fault of the hon. gentleman who puts the question, of my hon. and gallant Friend, or of myself if these men have not seen them.
§ 62. Mr. WILLIAMSfurther asked the Minister of Agriculture what action he has taken, if any, against farmers who have dismissed their workers and evicted them from their houses, following upon a visit from his inspectors who have enforced payment of wages in accordance with the county wage board decisions?
Mr. WOODI have no power to take any action in the case to which the hon. Gentleman refers, but I hope and believe that unjustifiable dismissals of workers on such grounds are very rare?
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs it not true that the right hon. Gentleman is aware that cases of this description have taken place, and will he tell the House what steps he intends to take where farmers, through victimisation, or threatened 25 victimisation, are attempting to nullify the operation of the Agricultural Wages Regulation Act?
Mr. WOODI should like to see details of the cases before expressing an opinion about them, but when I have seen them I am afraid my statutory powers will remain the same as I have stated in my answer.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs that not one solid reason why, where cases of evasion are discovered, action should be taken immediately?