§ Mr. HUNTasked the President of the Board of Trade whether any Chinese sailors have taken the place of British sailors on strike?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)The information at my disposal docs not enable me to answer this question.
§ Mr. HUNTAre we to understand that the Government is willing to allow Chinese sailors to take the place of British sailors?
§ Mr. BUXTONThat conclusion cannot be drawn from the answer. I said I have no information sufficiently conclusive to enable me to answer the question.
§ Mr. BUXTONThere are no means at my disposal of obtaining the information.
§ Mr. O'GRADYIn view of the enormous amount of Chinese sailors who are now blacklegging, will he appoint one of his officials to make inquiries into the matter?
§ Mr. BUXTONI can assure the hon. Member that in no sense are we giving any facility in reference to this matter. We are carrying out our statutory regulations and obligations.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company sent two men from Liverpool to Fleetwood on Tuesday last to take the place of strikers on the Lancashire and Yorkshire steamer, s.s. "Lune," and that these men are being detained on board this ship against their wish, and threatened that if they refuse to act as blacklegs they will be dismissed and lose their pension. Having regard to the seriousness of this action, and the danger of a development of the strike, if railway companies are to intimidate men in this manner, what action he proposes to take?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Tennant)When I received notice of my hon. Friend's intention to ask this question, I telegraphed to the general manager of the railway company asking information, and I have not yet received a reply. When I do receive one I will communicate further with my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. THOMASIn view of the fact that the answer is not satisfactory, I beg leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the action of a certain railway company in sending men against their will to take the place of seamen on strike and the imminent danger of a national strike in consequence.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThere are two objections to the hon. Member's Motion. First of all the Government are not responsible for what the railway company do, and, secondly, there is no information as to what occurred. The hon. Member should surely wait until he has got information and heard both sides.
§ Mr. THOMASI have very definite information bearing out the facts I have put in the question, and I have also additional information since then. Only yesterday railwaymen were sent in charge of two inspectors to take the places of seamen on strike.
§ Mr. SPEAKERWhat have the Government to do with that? The Government have nothing to do with that. It is not a matter under the control of the Government.