§ Mr. ROWNTREEasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, in view of the suggestion for a minimum wage for agricultural labourers, whether the Board has obtained any estimate of the weekly cost at present prices of maintaining an average family on a level of physical efficiency; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of some such inquiry being made?
§ Sir R. WINFREYNo such inquiry has been made, and in view of the unstable position of prices at the present time no good purpose would be served by such an inquiry now. Under the Corn Production Bill the Central Wages Board would be charged with the duty of determining the minimum wage, and the Board does not propose to interfere with their discretion beyond the provision in the Corn Production Bill that no rate below 25s. a week shall be fixed.