§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if his attention has been drawn to the published Returns of the Board of Trade for April; if he is aware that paragraph 1, page 130, discloses the fact that the cost of living has increased 94 per cent, since the outbreak of the War; if he is aware that the Irish Lights Commissioners pay their labourers 23s. per week to keep large families; if he is aware that in Government employment in Ireland wages have not been increased more than from 10 per cent, to 20 per cent.; if he is aware that, in employments such as the Board of Works, postal, national teachers, and Army offices dissension is growing rapidly owing to the inadequate wages paid; if he will cause inquiries to be made into the wages paid in these and other departments in which the Government have any control; and if be will consider the advisability of setting up a board to fix a wage that would enable the workers to purchase the necessaries of life and live in decent, comfortable surroundings?
§ Mr. DUKEThe increase mentioned in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette" is an increase in food prices only. I am not ablt to hold out hopes of a general increase of wages such as the hon. Member suggests.