§ 32. Mr. THOMASasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that the men employed at No. 8 erecting shop, Midland Railway, Derby, are now on short time, being booked off from 5.30 p.m. each Friday until 6 a.m. the following Monday, which actually occurred in the week the men were required to work through August Bank holiday, and the company have refused leaving certificates to a number of men who have offers of employment at much higher wages, and leave has also been refused to men who desired to take a few days' holiday; and, in view of the hardship involved by an employer refusing leaving certificates to men on short time and whose labour could be fully utilized elsewhere, whether he will have inquiries made into the matter?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe case referred to in this question had not previously been brought to my notice, but I am making further inquiries into it. It is always open to a workman to whom a leaving certificate has been refused by his employer to apply to a munitions tribunal for the issue of a certificate if he is of opinion that such refusal is unreasonable. A form of application to a tribunal can be obtained at any Labour Exchange.
§ 33. Mr. THOMASasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that there is apprehension prevalent among Midland Railway men about the effect of employment in the munition bond stores, Derby, owing in the first place that many of the men were threatened that if they refused to be transferred to the bond stores under the Ministry of Munitions, and in some 2039 cases at lower rates of wages, they would be released for the Army, and, secondly, when retransferred to the Midland Railway shops they are not reinstated at their former rate of pay, which was understood would be the case; and whether he will inquire into the matter and ensure that the position of the railwaymen affected will not be prejudiced as a result of having been working in the Government bond stores?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe labour employed in the bond stores at Derby is not under the control of the Ministry of Munitions, and I am not in a position to intervene in the matter.
§ Mr. THOMASDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see the danger of a threat of this kind being held over the heads of these men?
§ Dr. ADDISONI do not understand the hon. Member's question.
§ Mr. THOMASDoes the right hon. Gentleman not see the; danger if a man is offered a certain job at a certain price and he refuses it, and he is threatened that he will be released to go into the Army? Is not that a matter for his Department to take up?
§ Dr. ADDISONNo, I am afraid it is not.