§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Churchill)asked leave to bring in a Bill "for the establishment of Labour Exchanges, and for other purposes incidental thereto."
I was fortunate to find an unexpected opportunity last night of explaining the principles and scope of the Bill which I now ask the leave of the House to introduce, with a great deal more latitude and at much greater length than the limitations of the Ten Minutes' Rule would have allowed. I shall therefore not attempt to take up the time of the House by going over ground which I have already covered, but will content myself by saying that this is a very simple and very short Bill. There are only three operative clauses, none of which present any controversial or difficult matters. The Bill is already prepared, and can be presented as soon as the House authorises its presentation; and then we shall trust that it may be fortunate and swift in its progress through this House, because, though in itself it is a very simple Bill, the administrative work in connection with it is very complicated and very heavy, and great efforts will be needed if the scheme of Labour Exchanges which it proposes to set up is to come into active operation in the early months of next year.
Motion made and Question proposed: "That leave be given to introduce a Bill for the establishment of Labour Exchanges and for other purposes incidental thereto."
§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONI beg to move: "That this Bill be read this day six months." I listened last night with considerable interest to the speech of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, in which he explained the scheme of Labour Exchanges, and I was highly amused with some of my hon. Friends behind me who were most enthusiastic over this proposal. I would remind my hon. Friends that the sailors and firemen of this country have had a Board of Trade Labour Exchange for about sixty years, and I am bound to say, as one who 581 has had considerable experience of the matter, that the Labour Exchange for seamen, as now managed by the Board of Trade, is an absolute failure. It is one of the places where seamen are never engaged. To run these Labour Exchanges for seamen costs the Board of Trade something like £50,000 a year. In various ports we have a considerable number of beautiful buildings, well and fully manned by Government officials, who are well paid, and the only work which is transacted in those Labour Exchanges for seamen is the signing of the agreement between the crew and the master of the ship. But as to these being of any real value, either in the way of assisting seamen to obtain employment or directing them where to look for employment, after 50 years' experience I have come to the conclusion that they are absolutely useless. We are asked by this Bill to incur an expenditure of £200,000 a year, to erect buildings in different parts of the country, and to have permanent officials in charge of them. If the officials who are to be appointed by the Board of Trade do no more for British workmen than has been done for British seamen, then I venture to say that public money will be absolutely squandered. I am very sorry to take this attitude, but I feel somewhat keenly about passing a measure of this sort, though I have no doubt that the right hon. Gentleman has introduced it with the very best intentions and with a view to helping the working classes. I cannot, however, conceal from the House my feeling with regard to the other labour departments, namely, the Mercantile Marine Offices, which up till now have been engaged in the encouragement of cheap Chinese labour. In one Mercantile Marine office, for one white man engaged there are three Chinamen employed. Every time a Chinaman comes down to be engaged, he has to be escorted by half-a-dozen policemen. This is to be seen every day at Poplar. If the Labour Exchanges which the Government Bill proposes to erect do no more for workmen than they have done for seamen, they will be a failure, and I, therefore, move that the Bill be read this day six months.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is not necessary for the hon. Gentleman to do so. He can say "No."
§ Mr. HAVELOCK WILSONThen I will say "No."
§ Question, "That leave be given to bring in a Bill to provide for the estab- 582 lishment of Labour Exchanges, and for other purposes incidental thereto," put and agreed to.
§ Bill accordingly presented and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Monday next, 24th May.