§ 33. Mr. PALINGasked the Minister of Agriculture whether any application has been made within the last 12 months by farmers' organisations to the various county agricultural committees seeking a reduction in the wages of agriculutral workers; if so, how many such applications have been made; what is the amount of reduction asked for in each case; and will he give the names of the counties concerned?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)I am not sure what are the applications to which the hon. Member refers, but the procedure of the 2132 Agricultural Wages Act provides for proposals as to rates of wages being discussed by representatives both of employers and workers, and in the course of the discussions propositions directed to the reduction of rates of wages may be made by the representatives of employers, who are in all cases nominated by the National Farmers' Union from their local branches. I am not, however, in a position to furnish details such as the hon. Member desires.
§ Mr. PALINGDo I understand that when these representations for reductions of wages are made, no matter how numerous they are, the Minister of Agriculture has no knowledge of them?
§ Mr. GUINNESSWe have no means of knowing. Where wages agreements are due for reconsideration, one side may make a claim for a change, and a counter-claim will naturally be put in from the other side. We have no evidence as to how these discussions take place.
§ Mr. PALINGDo I understand that the Minister has no evidence that at the present time there are demands being made for reductions in wages in various counties?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI have no evidence of any general movement of that kind.
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the right hon. Gentleman not obtain this information without much difficulty, in view of ale small number of Wages Boards?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI think it would be very misleading, because it is very desirable that these matters should be discussed freely in the committees, and invariably, where a demand for a change is made in one direction, there is a counter-demand in the other. I do not think the House would be advanced in their knowledge if they knew which side first raised the question.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSSince the Minister is responsible for the appointment of the clerk for each of these Wages Committees, could not the Department be supplied with the applications made by farmers' organisations for reductions from time to time?
§ Mr. GUINNESSI do not think it would be consistent with the proper 2133 working of the Wages Committees for any difficulty to be made in regard to complete freedom of discussion.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSThere would be no difficulty.