§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for War, If he will state the number of men actually employed in the bayonet department at Enfield during the last fortnight, distinguishing the nationalities of the men, and showing the amount actually earned and paid to such workmen; and, if such amount varies, stating the lowest amount paid to any workman?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)The number of men employed at Enfield exclusively on bayonet work during each of the last two weeks was 136, and they were all either British or Irish. Their earnings for last week averaged £1 6s. 6d., and the lowest amount received by any man was 2s. 11d. for piecework. Besides the men referred to above, others are employed in polishing the bayonets; but they have other duties, and their wages cannot be properly discriminated.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked, whether the right hon. Gentleman had seen in the papers that great excitement prevailed at Enfield, where a meeting was held on the previous night? Fears were expressed that English workmen were being superseded by men of other nationalities. Could the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that there was no ground for this apprehension?
§ MR. E. STANHOPEsaid, that there never had been the smallest idea of having men of foreign nationality, unless it was absolutely necessary for the Public Service; the subject had never been even suggested. The excitement, he thought, was fostered by the local Liberal Association, and had arisen out of the knowledge that certain German workmen had been employed by Messrs. Wilkinson, contractors for sword bayonets. It was absolutely untrue that English labour was being displaced to make room for foreign labour. It was true, however, that certain German workmen were brought over by Messrs. Wilkinson for the purpose of teaching English workmen 497 how to carry out a certain particular class of work; but these men had been employed only because they were unable to get the necessary skilled workmen in England. When the English workmen had been taught the Germans would go back to Germany. In a recent case a small contract was given to an English firm; and it was found, in practice, that they were not able to complete the contract in England, and that the swords were manufactured at Solingen.