§ 37. Mr. FELLasked if any estimates have been formed by his Department of the number of persons employed in the building trade who were thrown out of work owing to the cessation of building which followed on the Budget of 1909, and the uncertainty which has hung over the building trade since that time?
Mr. BUXTONNo such estimate has been made. According to the trade union returns furnished to us, the proportion of building operatives out of work shows a continuous diminution since 1909.
§ Mr. FELLCannot the Board of Trade take any note or make any inquiry for the purpose of getting accurate statistics as to the number of persons unemployed in that trade?
Mr. BUXTONSo far as the general case is concerned we do, but we have no particulars as to unemployment in this particular case.