§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the decision of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to call in the mortgages of such of their members as remained faithful to their employers in the railway strike of last year; and whether he will introduce legislation to deal with the matter?
Mr. BUXTONThe hon. Member's question, together with a similar question by the hon. Member for Dulwich were on the Order Paper for Thursday last. An answer was then given to the following effect by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade: "I have seen in the Press a copy of a circular letter, stated to have been addressed to branch secretaries of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in November last. The circular referred to a resolution passed at the September meeting of the society to the effect that the mortgages of all members who failed to join in the strike last August should be called in, but I understand that no such mortgage has been called in, and I should hope that no step of that character will be taken."
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question: whether, if the circular is persisted in, he will bring in legislation to prevent its operation?