§ 69. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the lock-out now in force at the works of the Metropolitan Amalgamated Carriage works at Birmingham is due to the breach of an agreement by the Engineers and Allied Trades Societies Federation, made between it and the company; and whether he can take any steps to impress upon the members of the workers' union that the lock-out consequent upon this breach of agreement is causing hardship to innocent men and their families?
Mr. BUXTONI understand that statements have been made to the effect that one of the questions at issue in the present dispute between the Metropolitan 1783 Carriage, Wagon and Finance Company and their workpeople relates to an alleged breach of an agreement. As stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Wednesbury on Monday last, I understand that a meeting between the parties will shortly take place.