Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware of the case of Mr. S. Winstanley, of 12, Landscore Cottages, Teignmouth, who was suspended from unemployment benefit for refusing to accept employment as chair-attendant on Teignmouth front for 12 hours daily, including Sunday, at 40s. per week; and whether, seeing that the hours of work are 80 hours per week and the rate of pay 6½d. per hour, whereas the local labourer's wage is 1s. 1½d. per hour, he will say what steps he proposes to take to protect workers from being refused unemployment benefit unless they accept such low wages and long hours?
§ Mr. SHAWThe disallowance of benefit for six weeks in this case was confirmed by the local Court of Referees and by the Umpire on final appeal. I have no power to interfere with this decision, nor have I any authority to regulate the rates of wages or the hours of employment in such a case.