HC Deb 14 May 1900 vol 83 cc44-5
* MR. LEES KNOWLES (Salford, W.)

I desire to make a personal explanation. Since coming to the House my attention has been called to a statement made by the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. S. Woods) on Friday night in the House with regard to Messrs. Andrew Knowles and Sons, Limited, with which company I am associated. The hon. Member is reported in The Times to have referred to the Accident Relief Society of the company, and to have asserted that considerable influence has been used to induce the workmen to accept their scheme in place of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1897. Such a statement as that is absolutely untrue; and, further than that—

* MR. SPEAKER

Older, order! I think the company that the hon. Member mentioned is a limited company, and in that case the hon. Member cannot speak of any aspersion on that firm as a personal matter, although he is connected with it.

* MR. LEES KNOWLES

In connection with the company there is an Accident Society, of which I am the president, and to that extent I think the matter is a personal one, as an attack was made upon the Society.

* MR. SPEAKER

There can be no personal explanation unless the hon. Member can show that he was personally attacked. The privilege of making a personal explanation must be strictly confined to a personal matter.

* MR. LEES KNOWLES

The colliery manager was personally mentioned, the statement being that the colliery manager had actually gone to the pit bank and had almost forced the men to go to the office and sign the contracting-out forms.

* MR. SPEAKER

Am I to understand that the hon. Member is the colliery manager? If not, it is not a personal matter.

* MR. LEES KNOWLES

I want only to say that that statement is also untrue.