Sir HENRY DALZIELI wish to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the alarming proportions the strike of dockers and transport workers has assumed this morning, he is in a position to give any information to the House and to hold out any hope of an early settlement; if not, when will he be able to make a statement?
Mr. BUXTONAt the present moment I cannot say more than that the Board of Trade are using their utmost endeavours to promote a satisfactory settlement of this dispute, of the gravity of which they are fully aware. Conferences of employers and workmen representing the coal trade and the lighter men of the Port of London respectively are meeting again to-day at the Board of Trade at my invitation. If my hon. Friend will repeat his question at an early date, I may be in a position to give him a fuller reply. Meanwhile, I earnestly trust that nothing will be said or done on either side to widen the area of the dispute, or to render its settlement more difficult.
§ Mr. CLYNESCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether these men have ever been able to get any improvement in their conditions of labour or any advance of wages without a strike?