Sir F. HALLasked the President of the Board of Trade what are the wages earned and hours worked a week of steel smelters and rolled iron workers in Germany; and what are the wages and hours obtaining in the case of the same classes of workers in this country?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have been asked to reply. The weekly minimum rates of wages for skilled and unskilled workers in the iron and steel industry for a full week's work in North-Western Germany are;36.96 and 29.12 Reichsmarks, respectively, or 36s. 10d. and 29s. at the current rate of exchange. In addition, certain allowances are paid to married men, which for a man with a wife and two children would amount to 2s. 8d. per week. The normal working hours are 56 per week. Information is not available concerning the average earnings or rates of wages in the various occupations of the iron and steel industry of this country, but for unskilled labourers the recognised time rates of wages at the present time range from 36s. 4d. to 48s. 9d. per week. The working hours are eight per shift for shift workers and 47 per week for day workers.