§ Mr. KELLYasked the Minister of Labour the rates of wages for a normal week paid to men and women engaged in the cutlery trade; and what increases, if any, in rates of wages have taken place in that trade since December, 1924?
§ Mr. BETTERTONThe following statement shows the recognised time rates of wages, as agreed upon by the organisations of employers and workpeople, for certain classes of workpeople in the cutlery trade at Sheffield. Information is not available as regards the weekly earnings of pieceworkers, who form a large proportion of the whole. There has been no general change in rates of wages in this industry since December, 1924.
645W
Class of Worker. Rates of Wages. Per hour. Men— s. d. Spring Knife Grinders and Finishers 1 0 plus 40 per cent. Spring Knife Cutlers 10 plus 45 per cent. Table and Butcher Knife Hafters 1 0 plus 30 per cent. Table and Butcher Blade Grinders and Finishers 1 0 plus 35 per cent. plus 5s. per week. Workboard branch of scissors trade— Filers 9 plus 42½ per cent. plus 5s. per week. Borers, Putters together and Hardeners 9 plus 37½ per cent. plus 5s. per week. Scissor Forgers 1 0 plus 40 per cent. plus 5s. per week. Women and Girls— (1) On production work— Per week. Skilled workers (i.e., those with at least 12 months' experience)— s. d. 14 to 16 years of age 14 9 16 years of age 16 9 16½ years of age 17 9 17 years of age 18 9 17½ years of age 19 9 18 years of age 24 6 18½ years of age 25 6 19 years of age 26 6 19½ years of age 27 6 20 years of age 28 6 Semi-skilled workers (i.e., those with over 6 and under 12 months' experience)— Starting at under 16 years of age 13 9 Starting at 16 years of age 15 9 Starting at 17 years of age 17 9 Starting at 18 years of age 23 0 Unskilled workers (i.e., those with less than 6 months' experience)— Starting at under 16 years of age 12 9 Starting at 16 years of age 12 9 Starting at 17 years of age 14 9 Starting at 18 years and over 20 6 (2) On warehouse work— 13 years of age 6 6 14 years of age 8 0 15 years of age 9 9 16 years of age 11 9 17 years of age 14 3 18 years of age 21 0 19 years of age 23 0