§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the reasons why the basis rate of Ireland for unskilled labour should be Is. per week less than one obtains in all the English dockyards; and if he can see his way clear to advance the Irish unskilled labourers in the dockyards an extra Is. per week to make the basis rates the same as in English yards?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe minimum pre-War rate for unskilled labourers employed in Haulbowline Dockyard was 23s. a week, while the corresponding rate in dockyards in England was 24s. a week; the reason for the difference was the generally lower level of wages for unskilled labourers in the neighbourhood of Queenstown to that prevailing in England. The pre-War rates are in both cases now augmented by War increases, amounting to 39s. 6d. a week, with 12j per cent, bonus on total earnings,i.e., English yards £3 11s. 5d., Haulbowline £3 10s. 4d., respectively. I am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend any assurance as to the removal of the slight difference which now obtains in the total rates.