§ Mr. BYRNEasked the President of the Road of Trade whether he is aware of the 230W growing unrest and discontent amongst the Irish railway employés caused by their inability to pay the increased war prices for food out of the pay they receive; if he is aware that the English railway employés have received 10s. war bonus whilst some Irish railway employés have only received from 1s. to 3s. war bonus, and that some railways pay no war bonus; and if, to prevent an upheaval on the railways of Ireland, he will take steps to see that the Irish railway employés receive a substantial war bonus to meet the increased cost of food?
Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board of Trade have no power to require the Irish railway companies, to pay their employés a war bonus or to increase the amount where a bonus is already paid, but I understand negotiations are in progress between the Irisn railway companies and representatives of their employés.