§ 57. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Prime Minister whether, in regard to the representation of labour at the Irish Convention, he has approached the Irish Trade Union Congress, the Belfast Trades Council, the Derry Trades Council, and the co-operative societies, with a view to securing nominations from these bodies; and if they have not been approached will he say why?
§ Mr. DUKEThe Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I am having inquiries made with a view to securing that the nominations shall be those of representative men.
§ Mr. ANDERSONThat does not answer my question. Have those bodies mentioned in the question been approached in regard to representation?
§ Mr. DUKEI am having inquiries made. It is obvious there is no right of a specific body to nominate on the Convention. As I conceive it is the business of the Government to see that certain bodies which were mentioned by the Prime Minister in his speech shall have the opportunity of suggesting names, and it is with regard to other names as to whether there is no restriction that like bodies to secure proper representation shall be heard.
§ Mr. SNOWDENDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that five members in a Convention of 101 is sufficient representation for organised labour in Ireland, which is one third of the representation given to religious bodies?
§ Mr. DUKEI do not think the five members in question will be by any means the only people in Ireland who will understand the views of organised labour. So far as the policy or constitution of the Convention is concerned after the statement of my right hon. Friend it would not be becoming of me to make any observations about it.