Lieut.-Colonel J. WARDasked the Postmaster-General whether his Department have issued instructions to the Western Electrical Company on a Southampton contract to pay the navvies and labourers 2d. per hour less than the recognised rates of wages for this class of labour in that district; and, if so, why?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHInstructions have not been given to the Western Electric Company in the sense of the hon. Member's question. The question of the rate of wages to be paid to navvies and labourers engaged on Post Office underground work at Woolston, near Southampton, was raised by the Western Electric Company. The matter was referred to the Ministry of Labour, who found, on investigation, that the rates of wages for labourers in that locality varied from 1s. 5½d. to 1s. 9d. an hour, the latter being the building trade rate, which is not recognised as applicable to trenching and conduit-laying work. On the advice of the Ministry, a rate of 1s. 7d. an hour was suggested to the company.