§ Major HOWARDasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that less than 3 per cent. of the members, who are supposed to be the representatives of labour, on the Agricultural Wages Boards, are, or have at any time been, agricultural workers; and whether he will take steps to abolish the present methods of secret election, and to give to the persons engaged in the industry the right to elect their representatives by ballot in a way similar to the method now adopted in elections to other administrative bodies?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe hon. and gallant Member is under a misapprehension. On the Agricultural Wages Board there are 16 representatives of labour, of whom 9 (i.e., 56 per cent.) are, or have been, agricultural workers. With regard to the District Wages Committees, as I informed the hon. Member on the 30th ultimo, I cannot, without extended 81W inquiry, give particulars of the 320 representatives of workers, but I understand that the large majority are, or have been, employed as agricultural workers. Under present circumstances I do not propose to make any alteration in the Regulations governing the constitution of the Wages Board or the Wages Committees.