§ 27. Mr. TINKERasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is in a position to state how many of the employés in the mining industry are given holidays with pay; and can he give the approximate cost if all workers in the mining industry were given two weeks' holiday with pay each year?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKParticulars of the employés in the mining industry who are given holidays with pay will be found on page 125 of the Ministry of Labour Gazette for April, 1936. On the basis of the average earnings per worker during the March quarter, 1936, and the number of wage earners at present employed, it is estimated that the cost of granting two weeks' holiday with pay to all workers in the industry would be nearly £4,000,000 per annum. This estimated amount would, of course, be reduced to the extent that some persons would not have served the qualifying period, whatever it might be, and possibly by some adjustment of the organisation of the work.
§ Mr. TINKERWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman urge the employers to extend this privilege to all mine workers? Their occupation is a dangerous one, and the cost woud be more than repaid in the better health of the workpeople.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that not a single coal hewer gets holidays with pay, and that all the people in the offices enjoy this privilege?
§ Mr. JAMES GRIFFITHSWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman call attention to the fact that the cost of holidays with pay to all miners in this country would be less than what the royalty owners get out of the industry now?