Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that a number of workmen engaged in the building trade under the Department of Woods and Forests at Windsor are paid a weekly wage which is considerably lower than that paid by employers in the building trade at Windsor to their workmen, who are paid at an hourly rate; and whether he will take steps to pay the workmen in his Department by the hour and at the rate current in the district?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThere are a few men in the building trade engaged in Windsor Park who are classed as permanent hands and are paid a weekly wage which is in itself lower than the wages paid in the building trade at Windsor, but these men are exempt from insurance, and will be entitled to retiring allowances in due course. They also get cottages at less than an economic rent and are given permanent employment. The terms of their employment are not considered less advantageous to the men than those of other workmen of their class who are paid at the hourly rate current in the district. The Commissioner has not heard that any of such men are dissatisfied, but if there are any they are at liberty to be paid by the hour at the current rate in the district, in which case they will cease to be regarded as permanent hands, and will lose all claim to retiring allowance.