§ SIR C. W. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the statement in the organ of the Labour Department of the Board of Trade—"In the Forest of Dean the miners have been on strike since July 8th," is an accurate statement of the facts connected with a local lock-out unaccompanied by the offer of arbitration?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA, Sheffield, Brightside)The difference between a lock-out and a strike against a reduction of wages is one of some nicety. In the Forest of Dean the coalowners (so far as the Department is informed) gave a fortnight's notice without at the time making any proposal for a definite reduction, but before the notices took effect a reduction of 25 per cent, in wages was asked for, and, after a ballot among the miners, refused. Under these circumstances, the description of the dispute given in the passage referred to is correct according to the definition of strike and lock-out contained in Board of Trade Report on strikes and lock-outs, 1888. Owing to the ambiguity of the terms "strike" and "lock-out" the Department is gradually discarding both terms and substituting the term "trade dispute."
§ SIR C. W. DILKEWould it not be better to class the Forest of Dean miners in the same way as they are classed by the Homo Office in other English Districts?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI think that is a reasonable suggestion to which effect might be given.