§ MR. HUDSON (Newcastle-on-Tyne)To ask the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the large number of dismissals of the highest paid goods guards by the Midland Railway Company, and whose duties are now being performed by lower paid men; and can he say what are the number of hours per day and per week this grade of men has recently been working.
§ MR. HUDSONTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can say whether the reduction in the standard of wages now being received by Midland Railway guards owing to a large number of the highest paid men having been dismissed is, or is not, a wages question within the meaning of the agreement under which the conciliation boards were recently constructed; and whether the Midland Railway Company have made any application for their operation in this instance.
(Answered by Mr. Churchill.) I will answer these two Questions together. My attention has been drawn to the dismissals of certain goods guards on the Midland Railway, and I have been in communication with the railway company and with my hon. friend the Member for Derby. I understand that the matter has been already discussed between the representatives of the company and of the men at meetings of the sectional and central conciliation boards, and that it is still under consideration, and I am not without hope that an arrangement may be arrived at.