§ Mr. C. DUNCANasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will state what steps have been taken or he proposes to take to set up the Agricultural Wages Board and district wages committees as provided in the Corn Production Act; at which places or districts these bodies have been established; and what steps are being taken to bring their existence prominently to the notice of workers in agriculture and to speed up and co-ordinate decisions?
§ Mr. PROTHERO:In accordance with the provisions of Part II. of the Corn Production Act, 1917, and of Section 2 of the Rules Publication Act, 1893, Provisional Regulations for the constitution of the Agricultural Wages Board were made on the 28th September last. These regulations were confirmed on the 8th instant, and are being laid before Parliament in conformity with Section 12 (2) of the Corn Production Act. The various organisations of employers and workers to whom a right of election was given under the Regulations, have sent in their nominations, and the President of the Board of Agriculture, in consultation with the Minister of Labour, is now engaged in completing the constitution of the Board. A notice was widely circulated inviting suggestions of the names of suitable representatives by organisations of employers and workers, or by any ten farmers or labourers respectively. It is hoped that the Central Board will be completed within the next few days, and it will be its duty at once to determine the areas for which district wages committees will be established.
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