§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether it is true, as reported, that 6,000 employés of the Belfast shipbuilders are on strike; whether there is any cause in dispute except a claim on the part of the employés to have their wages paid every week, instead of every fortnight, as at present; and, whether the Government will consider of some means of bringing the dispute to a friendly termination, in view of the provision of the Truck Bill for weekly payment of wages?
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER SECRETARY (Colonel KING-HARMAN) (Kent, Isle of Thanet)(who replied) said: It appears that there is at present a dispute between the shipbuilders and their employés at Belfast on the subject of the existing system of paying wages. The Irish Government, while trusting that an amicable settlement will be come to, have no power to interfere in the matter.
§ MR. SEXTONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has any objection to despatch an Inspector to Belfast, with the view of seeing whether a friendly arrangement could be come to?
§ THE SECRETARY OP STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)was un- 554 derstood to ask for Notice of the Question.