§ Mr. HUDSONasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if his Department has taken any steps with the Irish railway companies respecting the setting up of the new system of Conciliation Boards in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1911; and (2) if the Midland Great Western Railway Company of Ireland are taking steps to have repre- 26 sentatives elected under the old system of Conciliation Boards of 1907; and whether his Department is helping them to perpetuate that old system, contrary to the findings of the Royal Commission of last year?
Mr. ROBERTSONSteps have been taken to ascertain whether the Irish railway companies are prepared to adopt the conciliation scheme recommended by the Royal Commission, as amended by the Conference of December last, and I understand that the companies adhere to the scheme of November, 1907, and do not see their way to accept the amended scheme. The method of electing representatives of the men to serve on the Conciliation Boards is the same under the two schemes, and an election on the Midland Great Western Railway is now in progress.