§ Mr. A. SHORTasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a manufacturer of blouses recently paying an employâ 11s. 8d. for making twenty blouses; whether this industry is covered by a Trade Board; and, if not, what steps does he propose to take?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am unable to trace the case referred to without further details. The work in question is, however, covered by the provisions of Statutory Rules and Orders, 1919, No. 357, and in any case of non-payment of the rates prescribed by this Order the workpeople concerned are entitled to take proceedings before a Munitions Tribunal in accordance with Section 5 (1) of the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, 1918. With regard to the latter part of the question, I made a Special Order on the 3rd September applying the Trade Boards Acts to the women's clothing trade, and the necessary steps are now almost completed for establishing a Trade Board for the dressmaking and light clothing section of this trade, which will cover the branch of work in question. I anticipate that the Board will hold its first meeting very shortly.