§ MR. SEXTON (Belfast, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury what provision is intended to be made in the constitution of the Royal Commission on the relations between employer and employed, and in the scope of the Inquiry, for taking cognisance of the special interests of Ireland?
§ COLONEL WARING (Down, N.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the proposed legislation with regard to Land Purchase in Ireland will seriously affect the position of agricultural labourers in Ireland and their relations to their employers in that portion of the United Kingdom, he will take steps to secure their effective representation on the proposed Royal Commission to inquire into the position of employers and employed?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHThe hon. Member for Belfast (Mr. Sexton) asks me whether provision will be made, and, if so, what arrangements will be made in 1703 the constitution of the Royal Commission for taking cognisance of the special interests of Ireland. I can only assure him and my hon. Friend behind me that the interests of the inhabitants of Ireland will be considered as well as the interests of every portion of Her Majesty's subjects in the United Kingdom in the arrangements for the constitution of this Commission, and instructions will be given to that effect; but I am quite unable at present, as the hon. Member will see, to go into the details of the question.
§ MR. CREMER (Shoreditch, Haggerston)Is it intended that the Inquiry shall only be prospective, or that it shall take into consideration the present state of things?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIt is intended to consider the whole question, in order to ascertain whether legislation is necessary.
§ COLONEL WARINGWill the scope of the Commission include agricultural labour?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI do not understand that there is any reason why it should not, if there is disturbance in the relations between capital and labour in agriculture.
EARL COMPTONWill the inquiry also include Government offices—for instance, the Post Office, where relations have been strained?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHI am not able to say.
§ MR. BROADHURST (Nottingham, W.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether, when he makes his promised statement to the House with regard to the Royal Commission on the Relations between Capital and Labour, he will be able to give an assurance that the scope of the Inquiry shall not be permitted to extend to, or in any way interfere with, the present legal rights and liberty of combination which the organised trades of the country possess?
§ MR. W. H. SMITHIt is obvious that the Commission would not have the power to interfere with the present legal rights of combination of trades; but undoubtedly it will be the duty of the Commission to inquire into all the conditions under which the unfortunate disturbance of labour happened last year.
§ In answer to Mr. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.),
§ MR. W. H. SMITHsaid: It is proposed to examine into the state of the facts and the conditions which exist; and, therefore, the Commission will consider whether any legislation may be wanted or not.