HC Deb 21 February 1893 vol 9 cc49-50
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state the names of the Commissioners to be sent to the United States for the purpose of inquiring into the question of Alien Immigration; and whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the text of the instructions given to the Commissioners?

MR. MUNDELLA

The names of the Commissioners are Mr. John Burnett, Chief Labour Correspondent, and Mr. D. Schloss, Barrister-at-Law, and a well-known writer on Labour questions. The instructions shall be laid on the Table of the House, if desired.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER

Might I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is the fact that both gentlemen referred to are permanent Government officials, subordinates in the Department of which the Chief is Mr. Giffen, whose opinions on these topics are well known; whether, as far as Mr. Schloss is concerned, he is not a gentleman of alien extraction who is known to entertain decided views; and whether the right hon. Gentleman can give any precedent for the appointment of a Commission nominated under such conditions, except the Commission presided over by Mr. Justice Mathew?

MR. MUNDELLA

I do not understand the reference of the right hon. Gentleman to Mr. Giffen. I am at present the head of the Labour Department, and I am responsible for the selection of these two gentlemen, and not Mr. Giffen. Any one who knows Mr. Burnett must realise his independence and impartiality in all these questions, and his bias, if he has any, tends to be against alien immigration. Mr. Schloss is a man of such knowledge and ability that we have decided to use his services in this and other inquiries. The right hon. Gentlemen asks whether Mr. Schloss is an alien.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER

I did not. I asked whether he was a gentleman of alien extraction.

MR. MUNDELLA

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman thinks I am a gentleman of alien extraction. I believe that Mr. Schloss is English born. He belongs to the Jewish community; he is a man of remarkable ability, and a very proper man for the employment. I hope we have not come to this—that we may not employ any man unless he bears an English name.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER

On going into Committee of Supply I shall call attention to these appointments.

MR. MUNDELLA

I must remind the right hon. Gentleman that there are hon. Gentlemen sitting beside him on that Bench who are of "alien extraction."