§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade when it is his intention to set up the advisory trade committees under the regulations of the Labour Exchanges Act; and, when set up, is it his intention to ask for representatives of employers and workmen associations to constitute such committees?
Mr. BUXTONSteps are being taken for the early formation of advisory trade committees. The mode of constitution of these committees is prescribed in Section 7 of the General Regulations. It is my intention to consult the principal associations of employers and workpeople in each district before the actual appointments of these committees are made.
§ Mr. J. H. WHITEHOUSEAre we to understand that such committees will be exclusively composed of representatives of the employers and of the workpeople?
Mr. BUXTONThe object, so far as possible, is to get real representatives on the one hand and on the other, so that the advisory committees may be really representative of the employers and workmen.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEI desire to ask whether people who are neither employers nor workpeople, but who are people of experience and goodwill, will be eligible to serve on these committees?
Mr. BUXTONThey will be eligible to serve if they seem to be acceptable to the employers and to the workmen. Our desire is to obtain primarily those who will represent the employers on the one hand and the workmen on the other.
An HON. MEMBERWill arrangements be made not only for the representation of employers and trade unionists, but also for free labour to be represented?
Mr. BUXTONWhat I said just now was that we desire to obtain those who are bonâ fide representatives of the employers on the one hand, and of the workmen on the other. We desire, as my right hon. Friend and predecessor has pointed out more than once, to have on these committees equality of representation of both sides.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEWill the right hon. Gentleman give me a definition of what is meant by "free labour"?
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the officer in charge of a Labour Exchange can, under the regulations, advance money to an applicant for work towards meeting the expenses of travelling to a place and taking work in a trade where there is a strike?
Mr. BUXTONNo, Sir. Under the regulations made by the Board of Trade in pursuance of Section (2) of the Labour Exchanges Act, no advance of travelling expenses can be made in the case of an applicant taking up employment in a place where a trade dispute which affects his trade exists, or where the wages offered are lower than those current in the trade in the district where the employment is found.
§ Mr. CLYNESAre the regulations available for the Members of this House; and may I ask whether, in the case of money advanced to a workman to reach his place of employment he will be required to repay the money?
Mr. BUXTONSuch money advanced under the Regulations will be repaid by the workman concerned. As regards the regulations, I intend to lay them on the Table at once. I will send a copy to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. BOWERMANDo the regulations insist upon an employer in dispute with his workpeople, and who made application to the exchange for assistance, notifying the fact that a dispute is pending?
Mr. BUXTONThe question of strikes has been very carefully considered with a view to the avoidance of the difficulty suggested, and the placing of exchanges on neutral and impartial ground.
§ Mr. O'GRADYasked whether Clause 2 of Regulation 4 of the Labour Exchanges Act will be amended to provide that copies or summaries of agreements arranged between associations of employers and workmen for the regulation of wages, or other conditions of labour in any trade, shall be posted in a prominent place in the Labour Exchanges?
Mr. BUXTONThe Regulations referred to have only recently come into effect, and I do not think it would be desirable to alter them until some experience of their actual working has been gained.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now in a position to state the names, positions held, and qualifications and previous experience of the chief appointments made directly by him under the Labour Exchanges Act of last Session?
Mr. BUXTONOn 1st February last a list of the names of the principal officers appointed under the Labour Exchanges Act was published, together with the positions to which they had been appointed. I am sending a copy of this list to the hon. Member. It is not usual in such cases to publish an official statement as to the qualifications and previous experience of the officers appointed.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of the men so appointed had any previous experience in work of this kind or of a corresponding nature?
Mr. BUXTONNot of this class; this is new work altogether; but certainly they are men who have had experience of work of a similar nature, which qualifies them for the duties they have undertaken at the Labour Exchanges.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEHow many of these men are ex-military officers, and how many of them are returned ex-South African Civil servants?
§ Mr. GOLDMANasked if arrangements can be made, in the case of towns where no Labour Exchanges exist, for obtaining forms at local post offices or elsewhere which any unemployed applicant can send by post to the nearest Exchange in a franked envelope?
Mr. BUXTONThe possibility of utilising the services of the post offices for the extension of the Labour Exchange 981 system is at present under consideration by the General Post Office and the Board of Trade.
§ Mr. FELLasked if the distress committees in towns where there are no Labour Exchanges are in communication with the neighbouring Exchanges, and work with them in supplying lists and details of men wanted and available, and are also in communication with the head office in London?
Mr. BUXTONNo arrangement of the nature suggested in the question has been entered into, and I doubt if it is desirable as a general rule to associate the work of Labour Exchanges too closely with the work of distress committees. I hope, however, that Labour Exchanges will be established before next winter in nearly all industrial districts where a distress committee exists at the present time.
Mr. DUNDAS WHITEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he was prepared to receive further applications with a view either to immediate or to future appointments under the Labour Exchanges Act; and how far the applications already sent in are likely to result in appointments?
Mr. BUXTONI am glad that my hon. Friend has asked me this question, as there appears to be a good deal of misapprehension in regard to the matter and it is well that the facts of the position should be known. It appears that over 20,000 applications have been received for appointments made under the Labour Exchanges Act. I find also that practically all the immediate appointments have been made, and I desire to bring this fact specially to the notice of all those applicants who have not already been notified of appointment. Further, it is clear that, in the circumstances, no further applications should be made, and I am anxious cot to raise hopes which cannot be fulfilled.
Mr. DUNDAS WHITECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether political influence carries weight in making appointments?
Mr. BUXTONNo, certainly. Any applications made are considered on their merits and the qualifications of the applicants.
§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a resolution from the Sligo County Council 982 calling for the establishment of a Labour Exchange Bureau in Sligo; and, if so, whether, seeing that Sligo is the most important town in the province of Connaught, and that there is as yet no Labour Exchange opened in that province, he will consider the advisability of establishing one in Sligo?