§ 72. Mr. WILKIEasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that a number of Chinamen are being employed in road-making at Edzell, in the county of Forfarshire; whether his Department have been consulted regarding the employment of these men; which Department is responsible and who are the employers; whether the recent refusal of the Forfarshire County Council to increase the wages of their roadmen has anything to do with the employment of the Chinese; and whether he will make careful inquiries into this matter and draw the attention of those responsible to the objection on the part of British labour to the employment of Chinese?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Bridgeman)The position is, I understand, that thirty-four Chinese seamen, who are temporarily unable to follow their ordinary vocation, have been employed upon road work at Edzell since the end of April. The information as to the employment of the men first reached the Minister of Labour when the arrangements had actually been made, and in view of the importance of the work and the difficulty of obtaining British labour he did not raise objection. I am informed that the men are employed by the Road Board acting as agents for the Air Ministry, and the Forfarshire County Council are not concerned in the arrangement.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWill the employment of Chinese not enable the county council to resist a demand for increased wages?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI cannot answer that.