§ Mr. SPOORasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can now state the result of the inquiry into the complaints regarding the conditions under which certain girls in the Women's Forestry Corps were employed at Trenholme, near Hutton Rudby; whether he is aware that a supervisor visited the place, expressed the opinion that the girls had been badly neglected, and induced some of them to accept transfer to Harbottle camp, Rothbury, pointing out that at this camp the girls would have hot baths, and that there were reading rooms, gymnasium, dramatic entertainments, etc.; whether he is aware that the girls who were transferred have found that, although the conditions are not so bad as at Hutton Rudby, the food is poor and insufficient in quantity, there is insufficient protection from the cold weather at night, that the canteen is unsatisfactory, the piano out of order, and the baths very small; and whether a thorough inquiry will be instituted into 917W the conditions under which these girls work and live and their rate of remuneration?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to answer this question. The inquiry into the conditions at Trenholme resulted in the discovery that one of the billets was unsatisfactory, and this has been accordingly remedied. With one exception all the girls expressed themselves as perfectly contented with the food provided, describing it as excellent in quality and quite sufficient. The camp has been recently inspected by Miss Franklin, of the Food Production Department, Miss Meikle, an assistant organising officer of the Timber Supply Department, and by another representative of the Board of Agriculture. None of these officials have expressed the opinion that the girls have been badly neglected. When the camp at Trenholme was closed three of the girls were transferred to another camp at Harbottle. No complaints have been received from that camp regarding the quality of the food or insufficiency of protection from cold weather at night. It is not known whether, when the transfer of the three girls to Harbottle was ordered, the girls had any prospect held out to them of hot baths, reading room, gymnasium, or dramatic entertainments, but it is unlikely that this should have been done, as the Department does not profess to provide these luxuries.