§ Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the condition of semi-starvation to which numbers of the women workers in the linen trade in Belfast have been reduced by low wages and the working of short time in the mills and factories, he will state the facts and figures upon which the employers rely to justify the reduction of their production to two-thirds of what it has been and their refusal to pay their employés a living wage?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI understand that a good deal of short time is being worked in the linen trade in Belfast, due partly to shortage of raw material and partly to lack of orders for linen goods. The question of wages in the linen trade will receive consideration in connection with the general question of extending the operation of the Trade Boards Act.
§ Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the demand of the spinners in the York Street Flax Spinning Company's mill, Belfast, for an advance in wages amounting to 3s. a week has been refused on the 1247W ground that the present state of trade does not warrant the concession of it; that a number of the spinners have ceased work and that a general strike is threatened; whether the average wages of these women in normal times is only 13s. 6d. a week, equivalent to 5s. 4d. at present values, and that even this is depleted owing to the decision of the mills to limit the output to two-thirds of the normal; whether he is aware of the distress at present prevailing amongst the mill-workers in Belfast and that a strike would lead to the most serious consequences; and whether he will send Sir George Askwith, or some competent representative of the Board of Trade, to investigate and report on the dispute and to endeavour to bring about a satisfactory settlement of it?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am aware that following on the refusal by the employers of an application of the spinners in the Belfast district for an advance of wages, a stoppage of work occurred in the spinning department of Messrs. York Street Flax Spinning Company, Limited. The Chief Industrial Commissioner is making inquiry in the matter.