§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAIN (Birmingham, W.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements were made by him to secure the appointment of competent and impartial persons as Labour Correspondents in connection with the new Labour Bureau; and if he will state the politics of the gentlemen already appointed to these posts?
§ MR. DALZIEL (Kirkcaldy, &c.)Before the right hon. Gentleman answers the question, I wish to ask whether the right hon. Gentleman, if he took politics into consideration, made any distinction between Liberal Unionists and Conservatives?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThree new Labour Correspondents have been appointed in connection with the Labour Department. One of these is a lady. Before appointing these officers I made careful inquiries into their fitness for discharging the duties intrusted to them, but my inquiries did not extend to their political opinions. I have heard it stated, however, that one of them is a life-long Member of the Conservative Party.
§ MR. J. COLLINGSMay I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will inquire whether one or more of these gentlemen were not distinguished as notorious partizans during the General Election, in consequence of their uncompromising support of the agitation in favour of separation?
§ MR. MUNDELLASurely I ought to have notice of a question like that. The right hon. Gentleman does not seem to distinguish between the Labour Correspondents of the Board of Trade and gentlemen who as local correspondents contributed information to The Labour Gazette.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINAre these gentlemen whom the right hon. Gentleman calls Local Correspondents paid by the State?
§ MR. MUNDELLAYes, I answered that question yesterday. They are paid small sums of from £10 to £20 a year according to the services that they are required to render in their separate localities.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINCan the right hon. Gentleman answer this question now, or shall I put it on another day? Will he furnish the same information with respect to these local correspondents that he has given with regard to the Labour Correspondents?
§ MR. MUNDELLAMy answer is that arrangements have been made with certain gentlemen in labour centres in the United Kingdom to supply information on matters affecting labour questions in their various districts. The politics of these gentlemen have not been inquired into in any single instance.
§ MR. J. CHAMBERLAINI beg, then, to ask, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in 1883, when the Board of Trade made a great number of appointments of the same kind, the whole matter was referred to a small Committee of permanent officials, so that there should be no suspicion of Party bias? Has the same course been followed in this case?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo single appointment has been made except on the recommendation of the permanent officials, and Mr. John Burnett has taken the pains to go down to the districts where he has been in doubt, and to select the best man for the appointment. I have not appointed a single person except on the recommendation of the permanent officials, and I have not inquired into the politics of those appointed.
MR. JAMES LOWTHERWill the right hon. Gentleman say who were the permanent officials whom he consulted?
§ MR. MUNDELLANo, Sir. I take all responsibility for them upon myself.
§ MR. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)May I ask whether, besides the small sums paid to the local correspondents, any allowance is made for travelling or other expenses?
MR. MCNDELLAIf they are called upon to travel—a question which has not yet arisen—of course their expenses will be paid. But the object is that these local Labour Correspondents shall supply information as to labour questions in their own districts.
§ MR. FORWOOD (Lancashire, Ormskirk)Will any portion of the cost of these Correspondents appear on the Supplementary Estimates?
§ MR. MUNDELLACertainly not. The appointments do not take effect till the 1st of April.