CLAUSE 7.—(Extension of Definition of Munitions Work.) (Hansard, 4 January 1916)

§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGE
I beg to move, in Sub-section (1), paragraph (a), to leave out the word "required" ["articles required for use in war"], and to insert instead thereof the words "(whether of a similar nature to the aforesaid or not) intended or adapted."

§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGE
I beg to move, at the end of paragraph (b), to insert
"(c) the construction, alteration, repair, or maintenance of docks and harbours in cases where such work is certified by' the Admiralty to be necessary for the successful prosecution of the War; and."

§ Mr. HOLT
I did not move the Amendment standing in my name because I understood that the Government was going to move this Amendment. I am very much obliged to the Government for moving the Amendment, which is really in pursuance of the discussion we had in Committee, but I want to ask them to make a slight amendment, and to insert after the word "harbours" the words "and work in estuaries." It is a purely technical point, but the "harbours" very often does not extend to the full limit of the channels on which dredging has to be carried out.

§ Mr. PRINGLE
I beg to second the Amendment.

§ Dr. MACNAMARA
We accept it.

§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGE
It is my very painful duty to move the Amendment which stands in the name of a very highly respected Member of this House, who, has suddenly passed away. I am sure that hon. Members of all parties will have heard "with very great regret of the removal from our midst of an hon. and gallant Gentleman, who has won great distinction in the public service, and who was highly respected in every quarter of the House. It is, indeed, a melancholy duty to move this Amendment.

Mr. HARRIS
May I ask the Minister of Munitions whether he can extend this Amendment to include omnibus facilities? A great many munition workers are conveyed by omnibus in London. There are two services of omnibuses, I think, going to Woolwich Arsenal, and it would be a very' serious inconvenience if these facilities failed. I do not know whether the right hon. Gentleman can accept my proposal, but I hope he can. Perhaps I may be allowed to associate myself with what the right hon. Gentleman said in regard to the hon. and gallant Gentleman whose decease we all regret.

§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGE
I shall have to consider the hon. Member's proposal very carefully, because it means a very serious infringement on the reservoir of labour which is available for munition work. Tramways are essential for the purpose of conveying workmen to munition factories. Occasionally, I understand, omnibuses are requisitioned for the same purpose. I will, therefore, consider the point raised by the hon. Member between now and the time when the Bill comes up in another place.

Mr. HARRIS
I beg to move, after words now inserted, "or the supply of tramways facilities," to insert the words" and the maintenance of sewerage systems of local authorities."
When I was first asked to move this Amendment, I confess that I thought that the sewerage systems were rather remote from munition work, but I find on investigation that a very serious question is involved, and one which I think will have to be dealt with by the Government, either in this Bill or in some other way. I have been asked by the London County Council to bring this matter before the notice of the Government. Clearly the main drainage system of London—I suppose the argument applies in other towns, but I am only acquainted with the London 'Case—has got to be kept going. The Minister of Munitions is very directly concerned, because Woolwich Arsenal is situated on low-lying ground, which is subject to flooding if the pumping is not kept continually going. In fact, the greater part of London requires constant pumping in order to be kept sufficiently drained, and that cannot be done unless a sufficient number of engineers and skilled men are available. The present 910 situation is that the London County Council is faced or threatened with an absolute shortage of labour. The reason is that the Munitions Department is drawing away from sewerage works and from other works of public necessity skilled men who are necessary for carrying them on. How is the difficulty to be met? I have been asked to suggest the method laid down in this Amendment, in order to meet the difficulty. If that cannot be accepted I do urge that the Government must take the matter into consideration and meet the difficulty in some way. They cannot wash their hands of the whole question and say, '"We are not concerned if London is not drained." They cannot take up that position. Of course, I realise that this is part of the problem of how to distribute skilled labour so that it shall go round and provide for services of public necessity, but I can see no other machinery available which will secure that skilled men will be available for this work I move my Amendment in the hope that the Government will accept it. If they are unable to accept it I hope they will, at any rate, indicate some way by which the difficulty will be met, and will give an assurance that they will really take the matter into consideration.

§ Mr. TICKLER
I beg to second the Amendment.

§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGE
This is quite outside the scope of the Bill. There is no doubt at all that there is a real difficulty which ought to be met, in so far as it can possibly be met under the very stringent conditions under which we are working the whole of our national life. I am afraid, however, that this Amendment cannot be brought within the four comers of this Bill.

§ Mr. KING
I beg to move, in Sub-section (2) after the word "Act" ["the principal Act"], to insert the words,
"there shall be added after the words 'affecting employment on,' in both places where those words occur, the words ' or in connection with, and in the same Section."
I understand that this Amendment will be accepted.

§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGE
I accept it.