§ MR. WOODSI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that between 21st March and 6th April, 1893, 10 of the most prominent workmen were discharged by Colonel Wood, the manager of the firm of Messrs. M'Corquodale and Company, printers at Newton and elsewhere, who do part of the printing for Her Majesty's Government, because they had joined the Typographical Trade Union, and that a number of others received their notice, which was withdrawn only when the men signed a compulsory agreement to sever their connection with the above Society; whether he is aware that at the other branches of the same firm in London, Leeds, Birmingham, and Manchester, the men are allowed to join their Trade Union, and in consequence they work shorter hours and earn higher wages than at Newton; and whether, in view of these circumstances, it is the intention of the Government to take such steps as will give these men full liberty to join their Trade Union, or in the alternative will they cease to employ this firm in the future to do their work?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Sir J. T. HIBBERT, Oldham)A reference to the Resolution of the House of Commons of February 13, 1891, will show that it does not prescribe the employment of Trade Union labour, and in these circumstances the Treasury has no authority to interfere with the selection by manufacturers of the particular persons whom they choose to employ. I should perhaps add that I am given to understand that the work done by the firm in question at Newton is principally the manufacture of envelopes.