§ Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the devaluation of craftsmen's wages; and if he will, for purposes of comparison, publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a tabular statement showing the relative rates of weekly wages for adult male workers, the hours worked and the level of wages expressed as percentage rates for 1914, 1932, 1938, 1948, and on the latest convenient date, respectively, for patternmakers, tool fitters, general workers, railway service, dock labour, road passenger transport, London Transport, journalists, and steel workers.
§ Mr. GodberI am aware that there have been many changes in relative wage rates in past years, including those for the crafts referred to by the hon. Member. The following table contains the information in respect of weekly wages and normal weekly hours for the occupations listed with the exception of steel workers for whom comparable figures are not available:
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RAILWAY SERVICE Date Weekly rates in monetary terms* Normal weekly hours Weekly rates expressed as percentage of level at July, 1914=100 Engine Drivers (according to year and grade)† Passenger porters (Grade 2) in industrial areas excluding London Engine Drivers (according to year and grade)† Passenger porters (Grade 2) in industrial areas excluding London s. d. s. d. per cent. per cent. July, 1914 40 6 19 2 58 100 100 s. d. s. d. (average) 31st December, 1932 69 5 to 86 6 40 0 48 171 to 214 209 31st December, 1938 72 0 to 90 0 43 0 48 178 to 222 224 31st December, 1948 124 0 to 138 0 92 6 44 306 to 341 483 5th March, 1964 270 0 to 301 0 194 0 42 667 to 743 1,012 * The rates shown for 1914 are the estimated approximate averages of the rates actually paid. For later dates they are the agreed rates. † Extra payment is also made when performing over a certain mileage a day.
DOCK LABOUR Average of recognised minimum rates and normal weekly hours in 10 large ports in the United Kingdom Date General cargo workers Daily rates in monetary terms Weekly rates in monetary terms Normal weekly hours Weekly rates expressed as percentage of level at July, 1914=100 s. d. s. d. per cent. July, 1914 6 1 33 6 See Note 100 or below 36 6 31st December, 1932 11 6 63 3 44 173 or 189 31st December, 1938 13 4 73 4 44 201 or 219 31st December, 1948 19 4 106 4 44 291 or 317 5th March, 1964 36 2 189 11 42 520 or 567 NOTE: In 1914 the daily hours varied between 9 and 10½ for a week of 5½ or 6 days. The hour for 1932 to 1948 inclusive relate to a 5½ day week and those for 1964 to a 5¼ day week.
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ROAD PASSENGER TRANSPORT Average of recognised rates and normal weekly hours in 39 large towns (including London) Date Weekly rates in monetary terms Normal weekly hours Weekly rates expressed as percentage of level at July, 1914=100 Drivers of tramcars or omnibuses Conductors Drivers Conductors s. d. s. d. per cent. per cent. July, 1914 31 1 27 10 54 to 60 100 100 31st December, 1932 58 9 55 7 48 189 200 31st December, 1938 65 10 62 8 48 212 225 31st December, 1948 109 0 105 2 44 351 378 5th March, 1964 235 3 226 3 42 757 813
JOURNALISTS Agreed London minimum and normal weekly hours of Newspaper Proprietors' Association Date Weekly rates in monetary terms Normal weekly hours s. d. July, 1914 … … No agreed rates Not known 31st December, 1932 … … 189 0 44 31st December, 1938 … … 189 0 44 31st December, 1948 … … 252 0 40 5th March, 1964 … … 480 0 40 NOTE: It is not possible to give weekly rates expressed as percentages of level at July, 1914=100 as there is no information about agreed rates in July, 1914.