§ 64. Mr. JOHN WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the total number of navvies and labourers sent to Rosyth dock works since his Department received intimation from the contractor that he was unable to get a sufficient number of workmen at the rate of fivepence per hour; how many of those that he sent as a result of this intimation were accepted; and how many were rejected by the contractor?
Mr. BUXTONI have already stated that no intimation such as that implied in the question was received from the contractor. I am obtaining information as to the number of men engaged through the Labour Exchanges generally for Rosyth between 4th September, when the requirements were first notified to the Exchanges, and the strike. When received, I will send the information to my hon. Friend. The number who came through the Dublin Labour Exchange was fifty-two. None of these men were rejected by the contractor. After the outbreak of the strike no cards were issued and no men were sent.
§ Mr. J. WARDWill the right hon. Gentleman contradict the statement made to me that the contractor did notify that there was a shortage of labour at a wage of fivepence per hour?
§ Mr. J. WARDDid he not state also that the wage was to be fivepence per hour?
Mr. BUXTONThe manager went over with the representative of the contractor, who explained to the men what the rate of wages would be, and that he could not guarantee them more than fivepence, but he said if they were good men they would receive more.
§ 65. Mr. J. WARDasked the President of the Board of Trade why his Department during the whole of the recent strike of navvies and labourers, continued to advertise in the different Labour Exchanges of the country for workmen to go to Rosyth; and why it was that some Labour Exchanges actually sent men to Rosyth several days after the strike had been declared?
Mr. BUXTONOn receipt of information regarding the outbreak of the strike, telegraphic instructions were issued to the Labour Exchanges that all notices advertising the vacancies at Rosyth should be withdrawn. I am informed that no men had cards issued to them for Rosyth through any Labour Exchanges after the strike had begun. I must ask my hon. Friend to furnish me with the particulars on which he founds his assertion that some Labour Exchanges actually sent men to Rosyth several days after the strike had been declared.
§ Mr. J. WARDIs it not the fact, from the reports in the Press, that two men, one from Glasgow and the other from Canning Town; and one from Folkestone, arrived with Labour Exchange tickets several days after the strike had been declared?
Mr. BUXTONI will inquire, if particulars are supplied to me. I stated specifically and categorically that no cards were issued after the strike was notified, and telegraphic instructions had been given through the Exchanges withdrawing the notices. It is possible some cards were issued before the strike actually took place and the men may have gone in afterwards, but that is not the fault of the Labour Exchange. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of the men to whom tickets were issued after the strike took place I would be glad to inquire, and, in fact, I think he ought to give me particulars of those cases on which he relies.