§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the published list of names included in the panel drawn from work-people for the Court of Arbitration contains those of any persons other than labour union officials and persons who are or have been connected with labour unions; and, if not, whether, in view of the fact that the great majority of the wage-receiving classes in the United Kingdom have no connection with labour unions, he will take steps to ensure that the interests of that majority of the labouring classes shall be adequately represented on the panel.
§ MR. CHURCHILLI believe that the preliminary list already published is wholly or mainly composed of the class of persons named in the first part of the Question. There is not the least intention of confining the workmen's panel to representatives of any particular section of labour, but it is essential, having regard to the objects of the Court of Arbitration, that the members of this particular panel should be persons recognised as possessing weight and influence with the classes of workmen likely to be engaged in labour disputes with employers. It is naturally to be expected that such persons would mainly be found among the responsible leaders of workmen's organisations; but there is, of course, no rule.