§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that a dispute has been in existence for several weeks at the British Wagon Works at Swansea; that the employer has refused to agree to conciliation or arbitration; and will he say if the Board of Trade has taken any action to bring the dispute to an end; if so, what action, and is it proposed to do anything further?
Mr. ROBERTSONAn officer of the Chief Industrial Commissioner's Department has had interviews with representatives of the parties to this dispute, and I understand that offers of mediation have been made by influential local gentlemen. It does not appear that any further action can usefully be taken at the present time, but the developments of the dispute are being carefully watched, and should the parties desire it the good offices of the Department will be placed at their disposal.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs not it a fact that one of the parties, that is, the workmen, have made appeals to the Board of Trade for their intervention?
Mr. ROBERTSONI have just stated that an officer of the Chief Industrial Commissioners' Department has had interviews with the parties.
§ Mr. SNOWDENThat does not answer my question. Is not it a fact that an appeal to the Board of Trade was made?