§ Mr. HODGEI beg to ask leave to bring in a Bill "to provide for checking the weight or measurement of ma[...]rials produced, handled, or gotten by workmen paid by weight or measure in certain industries."
In 1907 a Bill having a similar object was carried without a Division, and was committed to a Committee of the Whole House, because of the fact that the Government had decided that they would set up a Departmental Committee for the purpose of making inquiry into the matter. That Departmental Committee was presided over by Sir Ernest Hatchbart, and amongst its members were two employers of labour, Mr. George Ainsworth, manager of the Consett Steel and Iron Company, one of the largest concerns in the county, and Mr. Ed. Eccles, who has occupied the high position of High Sheriff of Glamorganshire and chairman of the South Wales Steel Employers' Association; two representatives of the men, as representing a section of the iron and steel trade; and Mr. Morgan, K.C., then Member of Parliament for West Glamorgan. After hearing evidence and visiting various works as to the practicability of a desire for this checkweighing that Committee came to a unanimous finding. Notwithstanding that, and in spite of the expenditure of public money, the Hone Department have failed entirely to give effect to the recommendations of that 1055 Committee. Hence my desire to have the matter placed before the House as I feel confident that, employers and workmen having agreed as to the desirability of a measure of this character, no section of the House would for a moment wish to treat such a Bill as of a controversial character. The agitation for this measure of justice has been carried on for many years, and deputations ever since 1893 have appeared at the Home Office, and Home Secretary after Home Secretary has agreed as to the justice of the case, and that, judging from the evidence of the men, a primâ facie, case was made out for a measure of this character. We hear a great deal these days about industrial unrest. Here the House has an opportunity of getting rid of one case, so far as unrest is concerned. In the navvy districts, where men are paid by weight in this way there is a great deal of dissatisfaction, because, when they are paid by measurements they have no real assurance that they are paid according to the amount of work they have done. For these reasons, I ask the leave of the House to introduce this Bill for the purposes I have already mentioned.
Bill ordered to be brought in by Mr. Hodge, Mr. Gill, Mr. William Thorne, Mr. Parker, Mr. Pointer, and Mr Clynes. Presented accordingly, and read the first time; to be read a second time upon Friday, 17th May, and to be printed. [Bill 130.]