§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)asked the President of the Board of Trade, If the Government will grant a Royal Commission to inquire into the condition of the Cradley Heath chainmakers?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Sir MICHAEL HICKS-BEACH) (Bristol, W.), in reply, said, that the condition of the chainmakers' industry was inquired into and reported upon by a Royal Commission in 1876, and a Report had been made by the Labour Correspondent of the Board of Trade. He was informed that the Committee of the other House on 605 the Sweating System proposed to inquire into the condition of this industry. He could not, therefore, see that there was any need for the appointment of another Royal Commission on the subject.
§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAMMay I ask the right hon. Baronet if he is aware that the average earnings of men in this district are under 6s. a week, and those of women and girls under 3s. a-week?
§ SIR MICHAEL HICKS-BEACHsaid, he did not know that that statement accurately represented the facts; but the facts appeared in the Report of the Labour Correspondent.
§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAMI had intended to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House in consequence of the answer given me yesterday to this Question; but the ordinary Forms of the House have been strained in a manner that I consider—
§ MR. SPEAKEROrder, order!