MR. KEIR-HARDIE (West Ham, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a notice has been displayed at the Enfield Factory prohibiting the workmen from meeting for discussion of grievances, and threatening the workmen with dismissal or suspension if they transgress the notice; and whether such notice has been sanctioned by the War Office; and, if so, under what authority?
§ *MR. WEIRAt the same time, I will ask the right hon. Gentleman whether an Order has been recently issued by the 913 Department to the effect that workmen engaged at the Ordnance Factories at Enfield, who publicly assert a grievance of any kind, will be held to render themselves liable to dismissal or suspension; and whether it is the rule of the Department that workmen have not the right, at a public meeting, or by means of a deputation, to criticise the policy of administration of the. Royal Ordnance Factories?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI gave a full answer to a similar question by the hon. Member on the 26th of April, to which I must refer him, and to the same answer I would also refer the hon. Member for Ross-shire, who has question No. 38 on the Paper. The notice now issued merely gives formal expression to the warning then given.
MR. KEIR-HARDIEIs the Secretary for War aware that the notice has been taken by the men to mean that they may not meet to discuss such questions as the hours of labour and the rates of wages. Was the notice so intended?
§ *MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI do not, of course, know what is passing in the minds of the men. They are perfectly at liberty to discuss among themselves any grievances on such subjects, and to put them forward in the regular way to their superior officers.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThat is answered in the answer to which I referred the hon. Members.
§ *MR. WEIRAre the men not allowed to criticise the policy and administration of the Royal Ordnance Factories?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIf the hon. Member will be good enough to look at the answer of the 26th of April, he will see.