§ 41. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Minister of Munitions whether, in view of the fact that there is now no Secret Service Department at the Ministry of Munitions, he will explain how the Department obtained a full report of all the speeches delivered at an aggregate meeting of the Engineering and Allied Trades Federation at Huddersfield on Sunday, 13th May, where only federated members were admitted on showing their Huddersfield contribution cards and where there were eleven doorkeepers who admitted no one unless guaranteed by one or other of the doorkeepers; and why, on the Monday morning following the meeting, the secretary of the federation was taken to Sheffield by the Ministry of Munitions and there shown a transcript of all the speeches that had been delivered at the meeting, and where he was also told that two of the speakers at the meeting had been marked, and that if the meeting had decided to strike these two would have disappeared during the night?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Mr. Kellaway)The suggestions contained in both parts of the question are inaccurate and misleading. The only information which the Ministry has received of the speeches made at the meeting referred to was vounteered by persons who rightfully attended. The secretary of the Engineering and Allied Trades Federation, who is also the secretary of the Local Labour Advisory Board, was invited to Sheffield to consult with representatives of the Ministry as to the best means of avoiding a strike in Huddersfield. There is no truth in the suggestion in the last part of the question as to the statements made to him on that occasion.
§ Mr. SNOWDENIs the hon. Gentleman aware that, the gentleman to whom he refers, the secretary of the Engineering and Allied Trades Federation at Huddersfield, is a man of the highest character 191 and reputation, and that he has made himself responsible for the accuracy of the statements made in this question?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI am exceedingly surprised to hear that.
§ Mr. W. THORNEMay I ask whether it is a fact that no one is sent at all from any of the Government Departments to attend any of these meetings to take a report?
§ Mr. KELLAWAYI have answered the question on the Paper, that no one was sent by the Ministry to attend this meeting, and the information given was volunteered by men who had a right to attend the meeting.