HC Deb 01 July 1915 vol 72 cc2116-7

1.0 A.M.

1. Any difference, matter or question to be referred for settlement in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule shall be referred to one of the three following arbitration tribunals:—

  1. (a) The Committee appointed by the First Lord of the Treasury known as the Committee on Production; or
  2. (b) A single arbitrator to be agreed upon by the parties or in default of agreement appointed by the Board of Trade: or
  3. (c) A court of arbitration consisting of an equal number of persons representing employers and persons representing workmen, with a chairman appointed by the Board of Trade.

2. The tribunal to which the reference is made shall be determined by agreement between the parties to the difference or in default of such agreement by the Board of Trade.

3. The Arbitration Act, 1889, shall not apply to any reference under the provisions of this Schedule.

Mr. JOWETT

I beg to move, in Subsection (1), to leave out the word "Schedule" and insert instead thereof the word "Act." The word "Schedule," to which my Amendment refers, appears to be a mistake. To say that "any difference, matter or question to be referred for settlement in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule shall be referred to one of the three following arbitration tribunals," is wrong. There are no provisions, and my Amendment is that the word "Schedule" be replaced by the word "Act." It may be that I am wrong.

Sir. J. SIMON

I think I understand what my hon. Friend means. He is referring to the Schedule, and it is on page 10 of the Bill, and as it is printed it runs:—"Any difference, matter, or question to be referred for settlement in accordance with the provisions of this Schedule shall be referred to one of the three following tribunals." The hon. Member thinks it really ought to be "in accordance with the provisions of this Act," but if he will look back he will see, in Clause 1, which is on page one of the Bill, at line 17, that the words are that the Board of Trade "may refer the matter for settlement either in accordance with the provisions of the First Schedule to this Act," etc. That is what is being referred to.

Mr. JOWETT

Thank you. I will withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Question, "That this be the First Schedule of the Bill," put, and agreed to.

Forward to