HC Deb 25 June 1902 vol 110 cc17-8
MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether Government craft are being employed in carrying cargoes of Moors part of the way from Tangiers to Gibraltar, where they are being taken to the latter place under contract, to take the place of dockworkers who have been locked out; whether two crews of H.M.S. "Echo" were discharged for refusing to man the boats whilst so employed, and bluejackets sent to fill their places; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTKR,) Belfast, W.

Nothing is known at the Admiralty of the employment of Government craft for the purpose referred to in the Question, or of the discharge of the crew of the tank vessel "Echo."

MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that the foreman, recently employed by the Admiralty at Gibraltar 111 connection with the discharge of coal cargoes at the docks there, is a person who has suffered six months imprisonment for having defrauded His Majesty's Government; whether lie is aware that this foreman is employing mainly Moors and other aliens to do the work, to the exclusion of native British subjects whoso work it is, and who are thus thrown out of employment; and whether he proposes to take any action to enforce the provisions of the Fair Wages Resolution of this House in this instance, and stop the employment of aliens imported under contract so long as there is a supply available of British subject labour.

MR. ARNOLD - FORSTER

The Admiralty has no information whatever with respect to the allegation in the first paragraph of the Question. I have no means of ascertaining the nationalities of the persons now employed upon coaling. The coaling arrangements at Gibraltar arc in the hands of the senior naval officer. It appears that in April a body called the Labour Association, which had hitherto undertaken the coaling, refused to continue it unless they were paid double rates, and in the emergency, sailors and soldiers had to be employed in unloading the colliers for the service of the Fleet. The coaling is now being conducted under another agreement, arid is going on satisfactorily, the ordinary rates being paid. It does not appear that the -Fair Wages Resolution of the House has been violated in this case.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Has the lion. Gentleman made proper inquiries? The information supplied to him as to the men demanding double wages does not tally with that given to me.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

I have given the substance of the replies I got both by letter and telegraph. If the hon. Member desires information on any further point I will certainly inquire.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Sir George White, the Governor of Gibraltar, has caused Army blankets to be issued to Moors who are being kept in hulks by the Masters Federation of Gibraltar by whom they have been brought from Morocco to take the places of the dock labourers who are locked out; and under what Army order or regulation the Governor is acting in using Government property for such a purpose.

LORD STANLEY

; Nothing is known of this matter by the War Office.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Does not the noble Lord think the matter of sufficient importance to justify inquiry?

LORD STANLEY

Sir George White would certainly have reported the matter had it occurred.