§ MR. KEIR HARDIE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the statement that the officers in charge of the troops in South Wales have met in consultation with the Emergency Committee of the mine-owners as to the most effective method of disposing of their forces; and whether the officers in command of the soldiers in South Wales are authorised to consult with the Emergency Committee of the mine-owners, and not with the Magistrates?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling, &c.I have no information on this subject, but have called for a Report, which I have not yet received. I may say, however, that it would be altogether unusual for the military officers to act upon instructions from any but the constituted Civil Authority.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEWill the right hon. Gentleman also inquire into the report in the newspapers to the effect that General Sir Richard Harrison is making a round of inspection of troops and is accompanied by Mr. James Williams, of Newport, as representing the Coalowners' Association, and ascertain why a civilian is allowed to accompany the staff on a visit of inspection?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI have no doubt that that will be covered by the Report?
§ MR. BURNIE (Swansea Town)May I ask whether, as according to all accounts there has been no necessity for the military to be sent to Wales, the right hon. Gentleman will take the earliest opportunity of getting them removed?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANNo, Sir; the War Office act upon the requisition of the Civil Authorities, and until that requisition is withdrawn the military will remain.
§ SIR C. W. DILKEDid the Local Authorities ask for any particular number of troops to be sent?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not know who determined the number of troops to be sent. I think the Civil Authorities determine the districts in which the troops are required. The General commanding the district is there at this moment for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for the housing and feeding of the troops.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEDoes Sir R. Harrison propose to provide additional troops, as he has promised the coalowners in response to a resolution of thanks from them?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am not aware that he made any such promise; I think it is very unlikely; but I would rather wait until I have the Report.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home De- 765 partment if be could state what Benches of Magistrates in South Wales have applied for military assistance in the preservation of the public peace; what is the total number of Magistrates who compose such Benches; how many of these are directly and pecuniarily interested in mines; and how many are working men?
§ MR. ASQUITHI have not the information to enable me to answer this question, very few of the applications having passed through the Homo Office, the others were addressed directly to the Military Authorities. If the hon. Member desires it I will obtain this information through the War Office, and place it at his disposal. I have no information which would enable me to answer the inquiries in Paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 of the question. It is improbable that there are any working men in the Commission of the Peace for the counties referred to, as the existing property qualification practically disables the Lord Chancellor from appointing working men to the County Bench. But I must point out that the existing dispute in Wales is largely a question not only between employers and employed, but between two bodies of working men who take different views of their own interests.
§ MR. KEIR HARDIEHas any application been received from either of those bodies for protection?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo, Sir. Applications for protection are not entertained unless they come from the Local Authorities.
MR. PRITCHARD-MORGAN (Merthyr Tydfil)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the fact that Her Majesty's Government considered it necessary at the request of the coalowners and Magistrates, most of the Magistrates being coalowners, to send troops to Wales to protect such of the workmen as desired to resume work, Her Majesty's Government will favourably consider the advisability of appointing a Minister for Mines, or a Minister for Labour, under whose direction Arbitrators or Boards of Conciliation may be created to settle mining and other labour disputes, with a view of averting the necessity in future of sending troops into districts where labour disputes exist?
§ MR. ASQUITHIt is not the fact that Her Majesty's Government have sent troops at the request of coalowners who are not Magistrates. How many of the Magistrates are coalowners I am unable to say. I should be very glad to see the present barbarous method of fighting out trade disputes superseded, and the necessity for taking exceptional measures for the preservation of order obviated, by the establishment of a well-considered system of arbitration. Her Majesty's Government have introduced a Bill for that purpose, but have not been fortunate enough as yet to secure for it the consideration of the House.
MR. PRITCHARD-MORGANDo Her Majesty's Government intend in the near future to bring before the House the question of creating a portfolio for mines, or, as in the Colonies, for labour generally?
§ MR. ASQUITHNo, Sir; I cannot hold out any hopes of that.
§ SIR J. GORSTMay I inquire whether the Bill of the Government will have the effect stated in the question, and when will the Government bring it before the House for consideration?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe right hon. Gentleman is perfectly well acquainted with the contents of the Bill, because he has taken a peculiar and personal interest in its fortunes.
§ SIR J. GORSTWill the Government bring this most important Bill under the consideration of the House at a time and under circumstances in which it can be discussed?
§ MR. ASQUITHAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, I cannot make any statement upon the order of business, but so far as my recollection goes the Bill has been several times before the House, when if there had been general goodwill and any serious disposition to entertain the Bill it might have been passed.
§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)Is it not a fact that the Bill was brought before the House at a time when no Amendment could possibly be moved or divided upon?
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Government has not yet been able to secure a Second Reading for the Bill.
§ MR. BYLES (York, W.R., Shipley)was understood to ask if the troops were sent solely at the request of panic- 767 stricken Local Authorities when there was really no necessity for them?
§ [The question was not answered.]