§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to the failure of the Household Linen and Piece Goods Trade Board at Belfast to fix a minimum wage; whether, under the Regulations of the Act of Parliament, Trades Boards are allowed three months for the fixing of minimum wages; whether he is aware that this particular Board in Belfast has been sitting since August, 1920, and now, at the end of seven months, no wage has been legally fixed; whether, under the present circumstances of trade in Belfast, this delay in fixing a minimum wage seriously affects thousands of female operatives who legally should have been paid a minimum wage since December last; whether this delay has been mainly caused by the action of two representatives of unorganised labour on the Board, both of whom are paid higher wages than the average and who have voted with the employers in postponing the application of the fixed rates until 1st March; whether an attempt is now being made to postpone the fixed rates until 1st September; and what action he proposes to take to have the minimum wage fixed in conformity with the terms of the Trade Boards Act?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe Linen and Cotton Handkerchief and Household Goods and Linen Piece Goods Trade Board (Ireland) was appointed in June, 1920, and on 28th July the Board decided to issue a Notice of Proposal to fix a general minimum time-rate of 8½d. per hour, and a piece-work basis time-rate of 9d. per hour for female workers, and on the 23rd November, 1920, it was decided to fix the rates proposed. The two sides, however, were unable to agree as to the date on which the rates should come into operation. Eventually a motion in favour of 1st March was carried, three of the workers' representatives voting with the employers. The position now is that we have before us officially the original resolution of the Board that the rates should be made effective as from 1st March, but, in view of a proposed further postponement and also of representations made to us by both sides, we have decided to hear the views of the employers and the workers' organisations before arriving at a decision. A deputation from the em-1434W ployers has been heard and a deputation from the workers is to be received on Friday next. We shall then take the matter again into consideration, and shall be glad to communicate the decision to my hon. Friend.