Sir W. JOYNSON-HJCKSasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that certain boat-building firms in Yorkshire, and particularly the Sheffield and South Yorks Company, are paying their workpeople a rate which is in excess of the district boat-building and ship-building rate by authority or discretion of the Canal Controller; whether he was consulted before such authorisation took place; and whether it is desirable that different rates should be paid in boat-building yards in the same district?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI presume that my hon. Friend's question refers to the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company. I understand that authority was given to this company by the Chairman of the Canal Control Committee, to pay building trade rates to certain men engaged upon boat-building. I was not consulted and I do not know what were the circumstances under which the authority was given.