§ Major HUNTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that railway platelayers doing much the same kind of work as agricultural labourers get with the £1 a week war bonus 39s. a week, whilst agricultural labourers who before the War got 16s. a week and a free cottage now only get 25s. a week and have to pay from 2s. to 3s. a week for their cottages; and whether, as under the present cost of living this practically reduces their wages to about 12s. a week, he could see his way to letting them lave a war bonus sufficient to make the value of their wages up to the pre-war standard?
§ Sir R. WINFREYThe grant of a war bonus to agricultural labourers is a matter for their employers, and I should personally welcome any action in this direction which farmers might find themselves in a position to take. But as my hon. Friend is aware, the whole question of wages in agriculture will shortly be dealt with by the Agricultural Wages Board and the district committees now being established. In considering the matter the Wages Board will necessarily have regard to the increased cost of living in the light of the information which is now being obtained by investigators of the Board throughout the country.