§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI beg to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House to consider a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the refusal of the India Office to enforce the terms of the Fair Wages Clause in respect to a contract now being executed by Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold, at the Dowlais Works, which has led to a strike of ten weeks' duration.
§ Mr. SPEAKERMay I appeal to the hon. Member to postpone this matter until the House can arrive at the actual facts. 814 A difficulty has arisen from the fact that the Under-Secretary for India denies absolutely that there is any such contract now placed with the particular firm, and it seems to me the House might place itself in a ludicrous and rather foolish position if it discussed this matter upon the assumption that the contract was in existence and was being carried out, and it transpired to-morrow morning that there was no such contract. As there seems to be a difference of opinion between the Under-Secretary for India and the hon. Member, perhaps he will postpone the Motion until the actual facts are arrived at, and the House will then be in a better position to discuss the subject.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEI at once accept your suggestion. I raised it to-day in order that the way might be kept open for a discussion. If I had not raised it until a later day I was afraid it might be blocked.