§ VISCOUNT HELMSLEYI beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an Act passed by the Federal Parliament of Canada in 1907, dealing with the prevention of strikes; whether he can state in how many cases the Act has been put into force, and with what results; and whether he will consider the advisability of introducing similar legislation for this country.
§ MR. LLOYD-GEORGEMy attention has been called to this Act. It relates primarily to mines and industries connected with public utilities, but disputes arising in other industries or trades may be brought under its provisions by agreement of the parties concerned. The Act came into force on 22nd March, 1907, and from that date up to 15th February, 1908, twenty-eight cases affecting mines and public utilities had been dealt with under its provisions in addition to one case referred by consent. In twenty-eight of the cases, strikes were either averted or ended, while in the remaining case the application of the Act failed to avert a strike. I have much sympathy with legislation with the object of strengthening the powers of the Board of Trade to deal with this class of disputes. The importance of the Canadian Act has not escaped my attention and its operation will be carefully watched.