§ MR. PICKARD (York, W.R., Norman ton)I beg to ask the Attorney General, whether his attention has been called to the case of "Frances Bennett v. The Buxton Lime Company," in the County Court, New Mills, Derbyshire, reported in the Sheffield Independent of 14th February, in which the County Court Judge is reported to have held that the company was justified in dismissing the plaintiff without notice by reason of his having taken part in an agitation for higher wages, although the rules of the company provided for a month's notice in writing; and whether it is the law that a workman forfeits his contract rights by taking part in strike or other agitations?
§ THE ATTORNEY GENERAL (Sir R. WEBSTER,) Isle of WightI am informed by the learned County Court Judge that the report in the Sheffield Independent to which the hon. Member refers is altogether inaccurate. He informs me that it was clearly proved at the trial that it has been the invariable practice, for at least 30 years, for both masters and men alike to determine their contract by giving a month's verbal notice. The plaintiff had received such a notice, but neither at the time of his dismissal nor after he had left did he raise any objection that the notice was not in writing.