asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware that at a meeting of the Aerated Waters Trade Board held on the 19th October, 1943, a decision subject to his sanction was made to increase the minimum scale of wages for male workers over 21 years and female workers over 18 years by 1d. per hour and all other workers by 1/2d. per hour, and if he will say when he intends to give sanction to this decision.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aerated Waters Trade Board Decision.
The Trade Boards Act, 1918, provides that, before varying any minimum rate of wages, a trade board shall give notice of the proposed variation in the rate and shall consider any objections to the proposal which may be lodged with them within two months from the date of the notice. Having considered any objections which may be lodged within this period the board may proceed to fix the proposed rates subject to my confirmation. The Aerated Waters Trade Board gave notice on the 5th November of a proposal to increase the minimum rates of wages for workers in the trade. Accordingly, the board will not be in a position to submit the proposed rates for my confirmation before the 5th January, 1944.
In the event of no objection being received within the specified period of two months, could not the Minister sanction the operation of this Order from an early date, say from the date fixed, namely, 29th October?
I must proceed in accordance with law.
Is the Minister aware that an increase was agreed upon to come into operation on the 6th November, 1942, and that that agreement, in fact, did not come into operation until the 25th March, 1943?
That is a separate question. I explained to the Deputy what the law is.
When this arrangement came into operation before, a very considerable time elapsed, in fact from 6th November to the 25th March, before the Minister sanctioned the operation of the award.
There is a procedure laid down. It was open to the parties in this matter, if they wished, to proceed for a bonus Order under the Emergency Powers Order. The effect of a bonus Order would be to authorise the employers to increase the rate of wages in accordance with that Order. Instead, they chose to proceed under the Trade Boards Act, which is a slower process but which makes the rates fixed under that Act enforceable by law. Under a bonus Order permission is given to increase wages, but the increase is not mandatory. Under this Act the increase is mandatory. The parties concerned chose to proceed under this Act and I presume that they were aware of the longer procedure involved—the requirement that two months' notice of intention of disputing the rates must be given. The decision in this case was taken on the 5th of this month and, under the Act, the board cannot bring their recommendation to me before the 5th January, 1944.
Can the Minister make it operative, in the event of there being no objection, as from the 5th January?
I cannot commit myself until I have seen the recommendation.