§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners paid last year about £1,500 for the loss of tools, entailing a large loss upon the Society and constant interruption of work upon the members; and whether, in the London District alone, they paid for this purpose £156 19s. 6d.; if in London an accurate inventory of the losses has been given at the police station nearest the place, according to Rules of the Society; whether his attention has been called to the paucity of convictions for robbery of tools; and, whether he will inquire into the possibility of affording more effective protection to their property, if it be loft under proper precautions, at the place of their work?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The facts stated in the Question are, I believe, correct. These robberies of tools left in empty houses are very difficult to prevent. The thieves secret themselves in the house and wait till the policeman on the beat has passed before commencing 547 operations. Empty houses are very numerous in the London District, and; it is scarcely possible to keep a continuous watch on all of them; but the attention of the police has been called to the matter, and ovary precaution will be taken to protect property left in snob, places by the workmen.