§ 18. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will explain why the General Industrial Commissioner, representing the Board of Trade in Belfast in connection with the linen workers' demand for an increase of wages, has not yet communicated with any of the workers' representatives, confining his communications to the representatives of the em- 630 ployers; and whether ho will give directions that the Commissioner should consult the representatives of the workers?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe Chief Industrial Commissioner has received communications from the workpeople's representatives relative to their application for an advance of wages, and in accordance with the usual practice has approached the employers with a view to obtaining the views of both parties to the difference. The Chief Industrial Commissioner is in London, not Belfast, and will communicate further with the workpeople's representatives after the further information indicated above has been obtained and considered.
§ Mr. DEVLINCan the hon. Gentleman say who are the workpeople's representatives?
§ Mr. PRETYMANNo, Sir; I am afraid I cannot. I know, however, that the Chief Industrial Commissioner will be very glad if my hon. Friend will speak to him on the subject. He will be glad to say exactly how the position stands.
§ 19. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received from the secretary of the FlaxRoughers, Yarn Spinners, and Other Workers' Friendly Society, Belfast, a communication to the effect that the spinners had asked for and had been refused an increase of 3s. a week, and requesting the Board of Trade to have the matter submitted to arbitration as a large number of the employers were working on Government contracts; what action, if any, he has taken in the matter; and whether the representatives of the workers are to receive any further satisfaction from the Board of Trade than a mere formal acknowledgment of the communication?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe Department have received from the Flax Roughers and Yarn Spinners' Trade Union and from the Flax-Dressers and Linen Workers' Trade Union requests for arbitration upon applications for advances of wages made to the Flax Spinners' Association, Limited, and refused by the latter. The Chief Industrial Commissioner is in communication with the employers' association on the matter.
§ 20. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the statement that the Report on the Linen Trade in Belfast supplied to the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette" 631 is based upon information supplied by the employers only has caused indignation amongst the linen workers in that city; whether he will now state the name of the person who acts as local correspondent for the "Gazette" in Belfast, the salary he is paid, and the employers whom he consults; and whether he will arrange for a separate Report in future from a source in sympathy with the workers?
§ Mr. PRETYMANIf the hon. Member will again read the reply given to him on 23rd November he will see that although most of the information concerning the linen trade is obtained from monthly returns furnished by employers, particulars are also obtained by local correspondents from trade union officials. The Report published in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette" is an impartial summary based on the statements received from employers, trade union officials, and local correspondents.
§ Mr. DEVLINCan the hon. Gentleman say who are the trade union officials?
§ Mr. PRETYMANNo; offhand I cannot.
§ Mr. DEVLINIt is in the question.
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am sorry. I did not notice it.
§ 21. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a letter published on 17th October last by the secretary of the Flax Spinners' Association, Limited, Belfast, in which he said that there was now an abundance of flax available which, if of lower quality than Irish flax, is about half the price, and that no mill need stop for want of flax; whether the Spinners' Association, in answer to a demand for an increase of 3s. a week made by the spinners, replied on the 4th instant that they could not grant the increase owing to the seriously depressed condition of the trade, making no mention whatever of shortage of raw material; and whether he will make further inquiry into the matter?
§ Mr. PRETYMANMy attention has been called to a letter appearing in the Press, written by the secretary of the Flax Spinners' Association, Limited, Belfast, of which my hon. Friend quotes a short extract. I am also aware that the Flax Spinners' Association have recently intimated their inability to accede to certain applications for increased wages in view 632 of the seriously depressed condition of the trade. As indicated in an answer to a previous question, the Chief Industrial Commissioner is in communication with the employers' association on the wages application.
§ Mr. DEVLINWhen will this Industrial Commissioner be able to tell us something practical?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI have already asked my hon. Friend to speak to the Industrial Commissioner about the matter; he will be very glad to explain exactly how the situation stands.
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the Industrial Commissioner making his inquiries in London or Belfast?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThe Industrial Commissioner is in London, as I have said in answer to a previous question. He has received communications from the workpeople, and has referred them to the employers for their remarks. As soon as he gets those remarks he will be in a position to say something.
§ Mr. DEVLINAs promptitude of action is the order of the day, would the hon. Gentleman advise the Industrial Commissioner to go over to the seat of war to get the information direct?
§ Mr. PRETYMANI am afraid that is not the only front to which attention has to be given by the Industrial Commissioner.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWould it not be better to suspend these supplementary questions till the new Government takes office?
§ 22. Mr. DEVLINasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that there is at present a strike of the roughers employed at Messrs. Adair, of Cookstown, county Tyrone, for an increase of wages; whether he is aware that Messrs. Adair are paying these workers 6s. per week below the standard rate set by the Spinners' Association; whether Messrs. Adair have been or are working on Government contracts; whether they at first refused to recognise or answer the workers' trade union; whether any communication has been received by the Board of Trade from the workers' representatives; what action has been taken in regard to it; and whether he will direct the Board of Trade representative at present in Belfast to proceed to Cooks- 633 town to investigate matters in connection with the strike at Messrs. Adair's with a view to a settlement?
§ Mr. PRETYMANMy attention had not been called to this dispute prior to my hon. Friend's question, but inquiry is now being made in regard to it.
§ Mr. DEVLINDoes not the Fair Wages Resolution apply to Ireland; if so, how is it that this firm is allowed to be employed on Government work at 6s. below the proper rates?
§ Mr. PRETYMANMy answer is that we are making inquiries; we have just heard of this case.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not the case that all Fair Wages Resolutions have to be suspended?
Colonel CRAIGWill the hon. Gentleman say whether in dealing with this question of the linen industry great care will be taken, owing to the fact that during the War it is in a very precarious condition, and that many of the owners are faced with the problem either of closing down their mills or running them on half time, which gives the impression that wages are low?
§ Mr. DEVLINIs the hon. Gentleman aware that when I put down a question in reference to the low wages paid the workers were on half time, and that the employers took the workers back again into employment in order to avoid paying the extra wages? Can the hon. Gentleman also say whether it is inconsistent with industrial progress in the linen trade that a decent living wage should be paid?
Colonel CRAIGIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many of these mills are actually kept running at a loss?
§ Mr. DEVLINWith reference to them industrial situation in the—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order!"]