§ MR. MACGREGOR (Inverness-shire)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether the Government can bring in, at an early date, a Bill to compel all labour disputes between employers and employés to be referred to an independent Board of Arbitrators, whose decision should be final?
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEI need take no pains to assure my hon. Friend of the great interest we have always felt in the question of arbitration, which, I think, was testified by the Bill which we introduced into Parliament this year, but, which we wore unable to push forward on account of the pressure of other business.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir W. HARCOURT,) DerbyIt was blocked.
§ MR. W. E. GLADSTONEYes; and the block unfortunately placed it in the category of opposed Bills. Undoubtedly, if the Government felt that interest on general grounds, it has been greatly quickened by all the deplorable circumstances attending the prolongation of the dispute in the coal trade. I do not think I can hold out to my hon. Friend any idea of our concurring in a plan of compulsory arbitration. Compulsory arbitration is conceivable under many given circumstances; but I do not see how it can be made applicable in this case, and I am afraid that to attempt it might cause reaction unfavourable to arbitration itself. With regard to a Bill for the promotion of arbitration, undoubtedly we shall be very anxious to find the first opportunity of introducing, and I hope passing, such a measure.