HC Deb 06 August 1888 vol 329 cc1701-2
THE LORD MAYOR or DUBLIN (Mr. SEXTON) (Belfast, W.)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been given to Rule 12 of the Rules of the Belfast and County Down Railway Servants' Provident Society, established 1st July, 1888, which directs that— All persons at present in the service of the Company, being males, in receipt of wages, shall become members of this Society, and also all such persons hereafter entering the service of the Company; whether Rule 3 directs that each member shall submit to a certain deduction from his wages; whether the Registrar of Friendly Societies has refused to sign the Rules; and, whether the imposition of such Rules upon any servant of the Company against his will is legal?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)

said, this was a Question for the Treasury.

MR. SEXTON

said, he had put it upon the Paper three times, and he would be glad to know who would answer it.

THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. JACKSON) (Leeds, N.)

I answered a Question a few days ago upon this subject. My answer was that the Registrar of Friendly Societies had refused to sign the Rules; and I think the hon. Member will see that a Society whose Rules have not been certified by the Registrar is in no sense under his control, and he has no power over it.

MR. SEXTON

Then I will ask the Home Secretary what steps he proposes to take to prevent an open violation of the Truck Act?

MR. MATTHEWS

I do not gather from the Question that there was any violation of the Truck Act; but if there is the Inspector will look into it and report.

MR. SEXTON

Is it not a violation of the Truck Act to make a considerable deduction from the wages of the men?

MR. MATTHEWS

Not necessarily. I have recently had to decide that point in a London case. Fines are not illegal.

MR. SEXTON

I do not refer to fines. I will put another Question to-morrow.