§ 87. Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that a petition was sent by the Midland district secretary to the National Union of General Workers in the early part of March to Mr. G. Pain, manager of the Glendon Ironstone Pits, Kettering, on behalf of the men employed by the firm; if he is aware that on 9th March a similar petition was sent to the same firm on behalf of the men employed at Little Irchester Ironstone Pits; if he is aware that both petitions have been ignored by the management; that on 11th May an arbiter was appointed to deal with the petitions; and that on 36th May the case was heard; if he is aware that, after the men's case was heard, the management commenced to discharge some of the men and that the men handed in their notices as a protest against the management for dismissing some of the men; and, seeing that the arbiter advised the men to withdraw their notices, but that the management refused to allow the notices to be withdrawn unless the men left their trade union and did not ask for further increases in wages, whether he intends taking any action in the matter against the proceedings of the management of the firm?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I understand that the position is as follows: The arbitrator appointed heard these two cases on 16th May, and the hearing was adjourned with a view to a settlement in the one case and to a further hearing in the other; after the hearing on the 16th May, four of Messrs. Pain's men were discharged for, it is alleged, not obeying the instructions of the foreman; no application was made by the men from either quarry to the arbitrator to continue the hearing or issue an award; but the arbitrator, on learning that the men had given notice, appealed to the union to withdraw the notices. This was done in both cases, but in the case of Messrs. Pain there seems to have been some misunderstanding. The arbi- 1296 trator immediately appointed a day (Monday, 2nd July) to proceed when the men's complaint as to notices was brought to his attention. The allegation that the management refused to allow the notices to be withdrawn unless the men left their trade union, and did not ask for a further increase in wages, was denied by Messrs. Pain, and the arbitration was proceeded with. The arbitration has been held, and I understand that the award will be issued almost immediately.