§ If it appears to the Board of Trade that in any district or trade adequate means do not exist for having disputes submitted to a conciliation hoard for the district or trade, they may appoint any person or persons to inquire into the conditions of the district or trade, and to confer with employers and employed, and, if they think fit, with any local authority or body, as to the expediency of establishing a conciliation board for the district or trade.
§ MR. ASCROFT moved to leave out the word "they" and to insert instead thereof the words "the Board of Trade."
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ MR. RITCHIE moved "That the Bill be read the Third time."
§ * SIR C. DILKEsaid that if no opposition was shown to the Motion it was because time was precious and the end of the Session was approaching. For his part he believed the Bill would do no good, and might even be productive of warm in some cases.
§ MR. JOHN BURNS (Battersea)said he had heard very significant rumours as to the possibility of the provisions for arbitration which had been deleted in Committee being reinstated in the Bill in another place. He hoped the Government would resist any such attempt on the part of the House of Lords.
§ MR. RITCHIEsaid he had not heard any rumour of the sort.
§ Bill read the Third time, and passed.