Mr. David Adamsasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will state the number of prosecutions for under-payment of wages for the 12 months ended September, 1936, and for the subsequent period to the end of Mareh, 1937, the fines inflicted, and the amount of arrears ordered to be paid?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonDuring the 12 months ended 3oth September, 1936, the number of prosecutions instituted by the Ministry for failure to pay wages at not less than the minimum rates fixed under the Agricultural Wages (Regulation) Act, 1924, was 93; the total amount of fines imposed by the courts in the cases in which conviction was secured was £251 4s., and the total amount of arrears awarded was £2,232 15s. 4d. For the six months ended 31st March, 1937, there were 62 prosecutions, fines amounting to £260 3s. were imposed, and the total arrears were £1,635 8s. 1d.