44. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked the Secretary for Scotland whether a deputation representing trade unions in Scotland waited upon him on Friday; whether the deputation consisted of the chairman, secretary, and a member of the executive committee of the Federation of Engineering and Shipbuilding Trades, and a member of the Scottish Miners' Federation; whether the deputation stated that, in the event of further restrictions on the sale of alcoholic liquor, there was a possibility of strikes on the Clyde; and if he can state whether the members of the deputation attended in their individual capacity, or whether they were specially deputed to act as representatives of their trade unions?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe answers to the first three parts of the question are in the affirmative. As to the last part of the question, I understood the members of the deputation attended in a generally representative capacity.
Mr. SCOTTDid the right hon. Gentleman understand that they were deputed by trade unions officially to make the threat that if the Government carried out a certain policy in the conduct of the War that would be met with strikes?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo, Sir. I cannot say I understood that. What I understood was—I asked this question, whether they were specially accredited representatives or generally accredited? and they said they were generally accredited representatives. I do not think they were representatives ad hoc.
Mr. SCOTTDo I understand that these representatives of the trade unions made the statement that if a certain policy were adopted by the Government for the conduct of the War they would be met by strikes on the Clyde? And do I understand that that statement is taken by the Government as representing the considered view of the trade unionists on the Clyde, and that this deputation were authorised by the trade unionists to make that threat to the Government?
§ Mr. TENNANTNo. As I said before, I do not understand that they were authorised to make any threat. What I did understand them to say was that they were accredited representatives generally, and in the course of their statement they did not make a threat, but they said that they feared there would be trouble.