Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that the sergeant-constable and constables employed at the Royal Gardens, Kew, who are called upon to perform special extra duty—that is, overtime —are only remunerated at the rate of 6d. per hour; whether he is aware that twenty years ago, when called upon to do extra duty they were allowed time and a half; and whether he will take steps to secure a more reasonable rate of remuneration for these men and also for the labourers when called upon to perform overtime or special duty?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board have no record of the rates of overtime pay at Kew twenty years ago, when the Royal Gardens were under the administration of the Commissioner of Works. I understand, however, that the rate since 1890 has been 6d. per hour for overtime worked by all classes except boys. So far as I am aware, the Board have not received any recent complaints on this subject, but I will make further inquiry.
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