§ 33. Mr. MANDERasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Messrs. Corbett Goodwin, Limited, cask manufacturers, Burslem, are paying for Post Office contracts a rate of wages of Is. an hour, whereas the rate as agreed by the National Joint Industrial Council of the cooperage industry is 1s. 5d. per hour; and whether he will take steps to remove this firm from the list of Post Office contractors in view of their failure to observe the terms of the fair wages clause?
§ The ASSISTANT POSTMASTER-GENERAL (Sir Ernest Bennett)I have already had full inquiry made into this matter. It appears that no agreement governing wages is recognised by cooperage firms in the Potteries and that Messrs. Corbett Goodwin, Limited, pay their coopers rates of wages not less favourable than those prevailing amongst good employers in the industry in the district. As, therefore, the conditions of the fair wages clause in their contract with the Post Office are being duly observed, there is no case for removing this firm from the list of Post Office contractors.
§ Mr. MANDERIs it not usual for the Post Office to recognise the decisions of joint industrial councils for the purposes of the fair wages clause, and is not this a direct infraction of the national agreement?
§ Sir E. BENNETTNot at all. Where there is a. national wage rate and it is recognised in a district, it is binding on Post Office contractors, but where a national rate is not recognised in a district the Post Office is guided by the action of good employers in the district.
§ Mr. THORNEIn consequence of the differences of interpretation of the fair wages clause, will the hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of bringing the heads of Departments together to agree that the wages recognised by the joint industrial council should be regarded as the fair wage?
§ Sir E. BENNETTI will consider that.
§ Mr. MANDERIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise this matter at an early date.