§ MR. JOHN BURNS () BatterseaI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, considering the number of workpeople that have been dismissed through slackness of work, and the number of discharges that are imminent in certain Government Departments, he will consider the advisability of putting the men in certain trades on short time, of suspending overtime wherever worked, and generally to adapt Government work to spreading employment, as far as is consistent with public necessity and efficiency, over the largest number in public employment.
§ MR. BRODRICKThe whole question is being dealt with so as to give the least inconvenience possible. But, I fear, to put a number of men on short time, unless there was a reasonable chance of their returning to full time, would merely spread the hardship over a larger number of men than would otherwise be affected. Further, the departments would run a great risk of losing the best men. who could find full time work elsewhere. As regards suspending overtime, will the hon. Member kindly refer to my reply to a question put on this subject by the hon Member for Woolwich on the 26th ultimo.†
§ Mr. JOHN BURNSWill the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the contractors that it would be advisable, in case of public necessity, to do the same?
§ MR. BRODRICKI do not know whether I can do anything in that direction, but I shall be only too glad to take any occasion to make the suggestion.
† See preceding volume, page 499.226
*MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the serious advisability of adopting the suggestion contained in the question of the hon. Member for Battersea during the winter months? The custom has been adopted in the North of England yards, without any loss of the best workmen following.
§ MR. BRODRICKI have given careful consideration to it, and, as far as I can ascertain, the cases in which a large number of men has been put on short time are usually those in which there is an expectation that full time will be resumed. A large number of men has been taken on for the war, and it would be a cruel kindness to put them on short time when there is no hope of bringing them back on full time.
MR. JAMES LOWTHER () Kent, ThanetIs not the scarcity of employment aggravated by the wholesale importation of pauper aliens?
*LORD CHARLES BERESFORD () WoolwichI beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can arrange that the discharges at Woolwich Arsenal, in order to reduce the complement to the normal number employed before the war, can be made at the end of the financial year, so as to avoid a large number of men being unemployed during the winter months.
§ MR. BRODRICKIt has already been decided that notice will be given that the discharges necessary will be effected on the 1st April, and that notice will be given to the men concerned as early as possible. Every facility will be given them to obtain employment elsewhere.
§ LORD CHARLES BERESFORDWill there be no discharges until the 1st April?
§ MR. BRODRICKI cannot say there will be none, but the main discharges will not take place till the beginning of the new financial year.