§ 73. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether he is aware that an agreement on certain wage questions was reached as far back as 12th November, 1915, between Messrs. J. Crowley and Company, Limited, Sheffield, and the Sheffield Ironfounders' Society, and that, despite repeated appeals on the part of 699 the men, the Ministry of Munitions has neither sanctioned nor refused to sanction this agreement; and whether, in view of the irritation caused among the workmen by this long delay, the Ministry of Munitions will now take steps to announce its decision?
§ Dr. ADDISONThe details of the agreement referred to in the question were first submitted to the Ministry of Munitions on 17th December. In view of the probable effect of the agreement upon wages in similar establishments elsewhere, the Ministry were not at that stage prepared to sanction it without further inquiry and particularly without reference to the result of an application then pending for a 6s. advance of wages made by the Sheffield Ironfounders' Society for the skilled moulders generally. The Ministry have now made full inquiries into the matter, and, as a result of these inquiries and of the adverse decision which has now been arrived at by the Committee of Production upon the application of the Ironfounders' Society in respect of their members, they are not prepared to sanction the advance. The application can, of course, if desired by the men, be referred to arbitration.