§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the Minister of Labour whether he will give a statement showing the present wage rates of boys and youths from 14 to 21 years of age employed underground and on the surface at coalmines?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI have been asked to reply. Wage rates for boys vary from district to district. It is not possible, therefore, to give the information asked for in full. Payments per shift for underground workers vary from approximately 6s. in the lowest to 8s. 6d. in the highest paid districts for boys of 14, and from 10s. to 14s. for boys of 18. For surface workers the corresponding figures are from 5s. to 6s. 6d. and from 8s. to 12s.