HC Deb 02 March 1910 vol 14 cc841-2
Captain FABER

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he would state whether in the Labour Bureaux preference would be given to British workmen who want employment over alien workmen?

Mr. BUXTON

It would clearly be impracticable for Labour Exchanges to make detailed enquiries into the nationality of every applicant to whom a vacancy is notified, but it is open to any employer in notifying a vacancy to express a preference for British labour, and the manager of the Exchange would endeavour to respect his wishes.

Captain FABER

If one man is an alien and another a Britisher, will the Britisher be preferred to the alien?

Mr. BUXTON

It depends on the employer.

Mr. BYLES

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether in the four thousand German Labour Exchanges preference is given to the German or British workmen?

Mr. KEIR HARDIE

May I ask whether the Labour Exchanges give jobs at all?

Mr. BUXTON

Labour Exchanges were intended to notify the vacancies, but not necessarily to supply them.

Captain FABER

Is it not the British labourer who is paying the taxes for these Exchanges?

Mr. REES

May I ask whether a similar preference should not be given to Welsh workmen?

Mr. REES

asked in what towns in Wales Labour Exchanges will be established, and when they will be opened?

Mr. BUXTON

Labour Exchanges have already been opened in Cardiff, Swansea, and Newport. It is hoped that it will be possible in the near future to open other Exchanges at Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydvil, Barry, Bute Docks, and Carnarvon.