asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state for the last year for which such estimate has been made, the total amount of the wages paid to agricultural labourers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Agricultural Labourers' Wages.
No estimate has been made in my Department of the total amount of wages paid to agricultural labourers. The only figures available relate to wages or earnings per head. It is estimated that the average earnings during the week ended 14th July, 1934, of permanent male agricultural labourers over 21 years of age, who were stated not to have had free house or allowance of any kind, amounted to 21/-. The estimated average rates of wages per half-year in 1934 of hired male agricultural labourers and female farm servants over 21 years of age, with full board and lodging free, were as follows:— Male agricultural labourers, £12 6s.; female farm servants, £8 12s.
Are we to understand that the average weekly wage of agricultural labourers in this country is 21/- per week with no perquisites?
The Deputy is not to understand anything except what I said.
I hope the Minister for Agriculture takes note of that information.