§ MR. VESEY KNOX (Londonderry)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that his refusal to exempt the Derry shirt trade from the provisions of the Factory Act 1895, requiring no work to be given out to girls employed in a factory, has caused grave discontent in Derry, which threatens to dislocate the industry; and, whether, having regard to these facts, he will reconsider his decision?
§ MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)asked whether the right hon. Member was aware that similar dissatisfaction was felt in the shirt and collar trade in Belfast?
§ *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI believe that certain representatives of the trade in Belfast desire that there should be some exemption. No, Sir, I am not aware that any discontent has been caused by my decision not to grant an exemption to the shirt and collar industry under Section 16 of the Act of 1895. No communications or complaints to that effect have reached me, nor have I seen any reason for reconsidering my decision?
§ *SIR CHARLES DILKEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Derry Trades' Council have passed a unanimous resolution asking that no exemption shall be given?
§ *SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYSince I made my decision I have not received any representation whatever on the subject.