I move:—
That the Dáil disapproves of the low rate of wages now paid to workers employed by the Commissioners of Public Works in connection with the construction of a transatlantic air base at Rhynana, Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare.
The case I am asking the Dáil to pass an opinion on is very easy of presentation. It does not require any effort on my part, any rhetoric, any word-setting, nor will any false reasoning on the part of the Government divert the decision that is likely to ensue from the facts I am going to lay before the House. This matter concerns the State and the individual. It concerns the Dáil also, as protecting the individual, in the circumstances of his necessity, from the oppression of the State, whether conscious or otherwise of the circumstances of his necessity.
The Government are highly elated because they have put the Irish Free State on the aerial map of the world and because, despite Kipling's dictum that "East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet," there is the possibility that East may meet West on the plains of Thradaree, at Rhynana, Newmarket-on-Fergus. The Dáil endorsed that action on the part of the Executive, and we are to be one of the termini of this inter-imperial, transocean, cross-continent, air transport service. I do not intend in this motion to discuss the merits of that decision. The initial activities consequent on that decision are under way. The responsibilities of this State are definitely limited both as regards the capital outlay and as to any deficit that may arise in the working of the air transport service. The Minister's words, however, when introducing this measure, are significant and relevant. They will be found in Volume 63, No. 6, column 2360 of the Official Debates. He said:
"The capital of the joint company will be subscribed and held as to 51 per cent. by the United Kingdom company, 24½ per cent. by the Canadian company, and 24½ per cent. by the Saorstát company. The control of commercial, technical and operating matters will be secured to the United Kingdom company through its majority stockholding, and through the medium of the articles of association of the joint company, subject to the superior jurisdiction of the board of directors on questions of major policy."
I would ask Deputies to remember that that is the relevant background, when they endeavour to picture the needy Clare worker engaged in producing this almost world-wide air transport service at a wage of 27/- per week. He has to try to maintain a family on it and to maintain his own strength to do the work necessary for the carrying out of this operation. In column 2360, we find the Minister further stating:
"In return for landing facilities to be granted to the joint company by the United States Government, Pan-American Airways will be granted landing facilities by the Governments of Saorstát Eireann, the United Kingdom, Canada and Newfoundland; and that company will participate on a basis of reciprocity with the joint company in the operation of the services."
That is the relevant background. Remember that it is to a mighty Empire, a powerful Republic and an extensive and wealthy Dominion that we are affording facilities. We are one of the legs of the tripod, and against that background I want you to picture the needy Clare worker, trying to make an existence and affording facilities to that powerful Empire, that wealthy Republic and that extensive Dominion. He is the man who is providing the facilities; he is the man who is making the sacrifices in respect of it. Fortified by the guarantees as to capital outlay; fortified by the guarantees as to working expenses, and as to whatever deficits may arise in that connection, if and when they do arise; fortified by the provision that the Saorstát is not to bear any higher cost than £12,000, we find that the Government initiates the work upon this Rhynana scheme.
There was first erected there a powerful transmitting wireless station and it is to be regretted that the first message that powerful transmitting wireless station should send to the world was: "Starvation wages are being paid at Rhynana on the scheme initiated and being carried through by the Irish Free State Government to afford transatlantic, transocean, across-continent, inter-imperial air transport services." That is the first message it had to send to a listening world, if the world were listening. That is the message it continues to send and that is the message it must continue to send unless this Dáil stops the scandal. The agricultural worker in England is getting something like 33/- a week. His wage is higher, and what is his work in comparison with the work being done on the constructional operations at the proposed air base at Rhynana? Can it be said that it is anything nearly as severe, nearly as arduous? Can it be said that the agricultural worker in England will require as much food or will require the same quality of food to repair wasted tissue and restore expended energy. It cannot, and no Minister and no Government can say it can. The Canadian navvy will probably get a wage approximating to between £4 and £5 in value of English money on the construction work at the other leg of the tripod of these air transport services. The question I want to put seriously to the Minister and to the Deputy in charge is: Have Canada and Great Britain succeeded in imposing upon us a standard of living which they would not impose on themselves?