HC Deb 09 November 1916 vol 87 cc411-2
113. Major HUNT

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what reason the Committee on Work of National Importance are allowed to send circular-letters to private and public institutions for the purpose of finding jobs for strong and healthy conscientious objectors, when so many wounded and injured soldiers are in want of employment?

Mr. PRETYMAN

It is one of the duties of the Committee to find work which is in their opinion of national importance for such persons as have been exempted by a tribunal on condition that they do such work, and have been referred to the Committee by the tribunal. It is, therefore, necessary for the Committee to put themselves in communication with employers.

Major HUNT

Why cannot jobs be found for men who have come back invalided or wounded from the War in preference to people who are perfectly well and fit? This is very unfair.

Mr. PRETYMAN

I would appeal to the House in this matter. There are forty-five questions addressed to the Board of Trade to-day. It is really impossible for one individual to be master of every detail arising out of every one of the forty-five questions, and at the same time to do the administrative work which has to be done.

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