AVERAGE HOURLY EARNING FOR WORKMEN IN 1961

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for Labour what is the average hourly earning for all workmen in 1961.

Mr Wee Toon Boon (for the Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, the average hourly earning in 1961 for all workmen was 80 cents in accordance with a sample survey of the average earning, average hours of work and the conditions of workmen in Singapore conducted in the last week of July 1961.

Mr David Marshall: Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that that means that there has been a decrease in the wages of our wage-earners?

Mr Speaker: The question being?

Mr David Marshall: That is, is he aware?

Mr Speaker: The question must not give information only. The information must lead to a question. That is giving information.

Mr David Marshall: Perhaps, Sir, I can ask this. Could the Parliamentary Secretary explain why there has been a drop in the earnings of our wage-earners?

Mr Wee Toon Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know on what basis the Member for Anson alleged that there was a drop in the earnings of wage-earners. From the statistics, it would appear that for the year 1960, the average hourly earning was 81 cents. So the difference of one cent does not matter very much.