§ *SIR CHARLES DILKE (Gloucestershire, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of recent inquiries into the sweating system, he proposes to take steps to obtain reports on the remedies which have been applied by the legislation of Colonial States, such as the Wages Board Acts of Victoria.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)Before that Question is answered may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will also make inquiry as to the alleged sweating of women and young girls employed by religious institutions expelled from France, and now domiciled in England?
§ MR. GLADSTONEYes, Sir. In view of the importance of this subject and the interest of the measures taken in several of the Australasian States to deal with the evils of the sweating system, I propose sending a Commissioner to investigate and report upon the effects of the Wages Board and Compulsory Arbitration Acts in force in Australia and New Zealand. The opportunity will be taken of obtaining information at the same time on the results of the legislation to secure the earlier closing of shops which has been adopted in certain of the Australasian States. In answer to the supplementary Question, I am afraid that I cannot add anything to Answers I have already given, although I must say that it seems to me it is as far a cry to Australasia as the subject of this Question is apart from that on the Paper.
§ MR. T. L. CORBETTBut may I—