§ Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that the wages fixed by the agricultural wages boards for youths employed on farms has had the effect of throwing out of employment a number of young men, farmers having found it impossible to pay the wages fixed to youths whom they are training to follow agricultural pursuits; how it is proposed to find skilled agricultural workers in future if these lads cannot be retained and properly trained; and whether he will issue instructions to agricultural wages boards that the wages of lads employed on farms should be settled on an economic basis?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe responsibility for fixing minimum rates of wages for persons employed in agriculture is placed2028W by statute on the Agricultural Wages Board, and the Minister has no power to issue instructions on the subject.
Captain BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture how many district wages boards exist; how many meetings have on the average been held per board during the six months ending 1st February last; and what is the average cost per meeting (exclusive of official salaries) in respect of members' expenses, fares, lost time, etc.?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe number of district wages committees established by the Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales is 39. The number of meetings (excluding meetings of subcommittees) held during the six months in question averaged from three to four per committee, and the average cost per meeting for members expenses was £19 6s. 0d.
Captain BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the average cost of each meeting of the Agricultural Wages Board, and how many meetings have been held in the past 12 months?
§ Sir. GILMOURThere have been 12 meetings of the Agricultural Wages Board during the past 12 months, and in connection therewith 31 meetings of committees have been held. The average cost of these 12 meetings (including committee meetings) was about £140.
Captain BROWNasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the yearly cost of the agricultural wages district and central boards, exclusive of members' charges for attending meetings?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe estimated expenditure of the Agricultural Wages Board and the 39 district wages committees for the financial year 1920–21, excluding expenses of members in attending meetings, but including the cost of advertising the Orders, enforcing the provisions of the Act, and dealing with applications for exemption, is about £60,000.