§ 22. Mr. WARDLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the officials of the London and Southwestern Railway Company, which is now under State control, are requiring their lady clerks to sign a document undertaking not to join any society or association 1110 without first obtaining permission; and whether, in view of the necessity of maintaining harmonious relationships in the railway service and the avoidance of all ground for apprehension on the part of the employés that their legitimate liberties are being encroached upon under cover of the War, he will take steps immediately to put a stop to the present attempts to prevent railway clerical workers from exercising their right to associate in a trade union?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)I am informed by the railway company that through some misapprehension certain of their female clerks were asked to sign a document to the effect that they did not belong to a trade union, and that this has now been put right. The company add that they must not be understood as giving up in any way the right to make what regulations they consider necessary in regard to clerks occupying confidential positions in headquarters offices.