§ MR. M'LAREN (Cheshire, Crewe)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the continued violation of Section 9 of the Truck Act of 1887 by the London and North-Western Railway Company at Crewe; and, whether he will take steps to see that this section is carried out for the protection of the workmen?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (MR. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The question of the legality of the system in use at Crewe has been for some time under my consideration; and I have directed the opinion of the Law Officers to be taken on the points of law involved. The Company deny—and it is not yet clearly established—that this system is a violation of the Truck Acts.
§ MR. M'LARENreminded the right hon. Gentleman that the point of violation was that they had not ordered the men to appoint auditors.
§ MR. MATTHEWSreplied that he was quite aware of that; but the contention of the Company was that they were mere collectors of the voluntary contributions of the men.