§ 77. Mr. PETOasked the Secretary to the Treasury on what dates prior or during the month of July he saw the representatives of the master printers of the London district; and on what occasions and on what dates these master printers had the opportunity of putting their case fully before the Government?
§ Mr. MASTERMAN.I did not receive any request from the master printers for an interview at any time before my decision was known at the end of last month. Had I done so, I would have been as willing to hear them as I was to hear the representatives of the men. I had, however, before me figures supplied during the winter to the Stationery Office by the secretary of the Masters' Association, which were at variance with those supplied by the men's representatives, and it was in the face of these conflicting statements that I asked the Board of Trade to make an impartial inquiry independently of either party. The Board of Trade results were arrived at by figures supplied by 2088 masters and not by men, and my decision with regard to Government contractors was based upon the facts thus independently ascertained and not on the representations of either side; nor would it have been affected, so far as these facts were concerned, by representations from either side.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIs it not the fact that the right hon. Gentleman took care to receive the newspaper proprietors?
§ Mr. MASTERMANNo; I explained very fully in the Debate on the Adjournment what actually happened. Perhaps the hon. Member will refer to that.