Dr. MURRAYI wish to raise a matter that concerns the third largest island in the United Kingdom. My complaint's that the communication between the Island of Lewis and the mainland has been cut down, owing to the action of the Treasury, to one half of what it has been during the last thirty years. It is difficult for people who live upon the mainland and under the fine social conditions in which you live in. London to understand what that means to a population 30,000 living on an island 70 miles away from the railway terminus. This is not a mere matter of inconvenience to the people in those parts, but a matter of life and death. It affects their trade, industry, commerce and social life generally, and their food supply. Even thirty years ago, when the population was much less than it is to-day, their commerce and industry was one fourth, the passenger traffic was only one-sixth and the postal traffic probably about one-tenth, it was found necessary by the Government of that day to institute a daily service between the island and the mainland. The island during that period was such that even before the War, although there was a steamer service from Liverpool and Aberdeen by which supplies, food and other necessaries of life were carried, it has been stopped by the War, consequently the pressure put upon the little mail boat was very greatly increased. In spite of that the service has now been reduced from six to three days a week through the action of the Treasury. The Secretary for Scotland, who knows the conditions and requirements of those parts, with the best intention in tie world appointed a Committee some time ago, in pursuance of the policy of reconstruction initiated by the Prime Minister, to inquire into the transport of these ports. This Committee drew up an excellent Report which said, 822
We feel that the Lewis people have a very distinct grievance in respect of the great physical inconvenience they suffer at the present time owing to inadequate transport accommodation.That was when there was a mail service six times a week. The Committee made several recommendations. They recommended an improved mail service and a, larger steamer; also coastal traffic along the whole coast of these islands. While this was being dangled before the expectant eyes of the people the Treasury comes along and takes away half the. existing service. Their motto seems to-be: "Unto those that hath shall be given, and from those that hath not shall be taken away even that which they have." The people of the mainland who use the railways have been subsidised by the taxpayers to the extent of £100,000,000 a year. In addition the Minister of Transport came last week and asked for over £1,000,000 to compensate the railway users. who were compelled to use the coastal traffic in order to relieve the congestion on the railways. None of that money went to the West Coast of Scotland, where-the people are entirely dependent upon coastal traffic for their supplies to carry on their trade. It may be said that they use the railways. That is so, but the freight and passenger fares have been raised to such an extent that any benefit they get out of the railways is lost, because they have to pay through the nose-when they get on board the steamers. These people, who are dependent on coastal service, have not been treated fairly compared with the pampered people. who carry on their trade and commerce by railway. The Chancellor of the Exchequer to-day talked about the cost of this West Coast mail service to the taxpayer. When we think of the enormous. subsidies which come upon the taxpayer, the £2,000 or £3,000 paid for this service should not be thought of. If Lewis had a subsidy per head of population in proportion to the subsidy given to the railway users here, we should have, not-£2,000, but about £60,000 a year. There need he no cost to the taxpayer for the service between Kyle and Stornoway, because the traffic in goods and passengers and the coastal traffic have so increased— not to speak of the 50 per cent. added-to the cost—that the service could be worked as an economic service if properly managed between the Government and the owners of the steamers. Therefore the statement that this service would be a 823 burden on the taxpayer is unfair. If the right hon. Gentleman looked into the matter he would find that the service which has been reduced by one-half pays its way. If it does not it ought to do, because it is a congested traffic in every sense of the word. Before the War a mail service six days a week was insufficient, as the Post Office told us over and over again and the Railway Transport Committee admitted. Many incidents could be given which cast a lurid light on the existing conditions. On New Year's Day we had the accident to the "Jolaire," when 200 sailors lost their lives on the threshold of their homes. They were on board the Admiralty boat because the ordinary steamboat could not carry them. Whenever there is any extra pressure the steamboat cannot stand it and therefore things break down. The passenger traffic there is part of the economic life of the island. Thousands of the people go about the country from fishing port to fishing port. A fortnight ago 200 women coming from Yarmouth were stranded at Kyle for two days and two nights without any food and with very little shelter simply because they did not know that the service was reduced. It constantly happens that people cannot go to or from the island because there is no room on the boat. The people of these islands have not deserved this. The people of the Is and of Lewis did as much in the War in proportion to the population as any other part of the United Kingdom. They now hear about reconstruction—that blessed word Mesopotamia is out of date—in common with every other part of the United Kingdom. Reconstruction then chequer said to-day that the fishing industry, to which the Treasury has dealt a mortal blow. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said to-day that the fishing industry of Lewis was not dependent on a daily service to the mainland. He knows nothing about it. I do not know where he got his information. I am acquainted with every detail of the fishing industry and other industries in that island, and they are essentially dependent upon an efficient daily service with the mainland. The food of the people is also involved. Many times last winter food was lost on these islands bemuse of the want of transport. The Chancellor of the Exchequer said to-day that the people there could get plenty of work if they wanted it. Is it the policy of the Government to make the conditions 824 Such that the people cannot live on the island, and to compel them to go into the cities? That is what the Chancellor means; if they cannot get work there they can get it in the slums of Glasgow. The War has proved that it is necessary to keep a population of this kind on the soil. An essential condition of doing that is there should be facilities for the transport of fish, cattle, and sheep, and other foods to market, and a full service for passengers. I think it is a disgrace at this time, that in a big fishing industry of that sort a daily passenger service should not be provided. I hope I shall have a sympathetic and practical reply from the Government. I am sorry that there is not a representative of the Treasury present. The Treasury is the enemy.
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)I would congratulate my hon. Friend on the vigilance which he always displays about any matter which affects his Constituency. He need offer no apology for bringing forward this matter, the importance of which I, as a Highlander, recognise. I am rather doubtful whether I am. the proper Minister to reply. The Post Office is interested; in fact, it is upon the Post Office Vote that the cost of this steamer service rests. The Treasury is interested; the Ministry of Transport is interested. While that is so, having regard to the fact that I appointed the Transport Committee, J think I have a distinct interest in the matter, and I have a very considerable sympathy with the point of view which the hon. Member has expressed. The hon. Member put a question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and it is to that question that I desire to refer he referred in the first part of the question to the services which the Lewis men have rendered to their country. I do not think anyone can dispute that the War record of Lewis men and women is second to none -within the British Isles or outside. The hon. Member has said that quite a number of these men have come back from the War and have found themselves unable to devote their attention to the fishing industry in which they were formerly engaged, because of the absence of the steamer service. That, no doubt, is very regrettable, but my hon. Friend will probably agree that in other matters referring to industry within the Island of Lewis, thanks to Lord Leverhulme, there are many men employed to-day who would 825 not otherwise be employed in such matters. I am told that in the making of roads, in housing, and in other industries, ample occupation is provided to-day for every able-bodied man on the island. As it happens, I had an interview this morning with the engineer who represents Lord Leverhulme, and he told me that he was employing men in the construction of roads throughout the island at 1s. 2d. an hour, and that they could work as many hours as they chose on that particular task. So far as my information goes, there is ample work available for every able-bodied man on the island.
Dr. MURRAYThe point was that these men were not in a position to engage in the fishing industry. As to the number of men employed, the right hon. Gentleman may have later information, but it is not in acordance with my information, although I know Lord Leverhulme does employ a number of men.
§ Mr. MUNROThe point I understood was that, owing to the absence of a steamer service, men were being driven from Lewis to seek occupation in the city of Glasgow. My answer to that is, according to the information I have, that there is no necessity for any man to go beyond the confines of the island as there is ample work for everyone. My hon. Friend said the steamer service was necessary for the carrying of fish to the mainland. As he knows, the winter fishing is approaching and during the next two or three months it will be in full swing. During that time there will be arrangements for the special carriage of the fish to the mainland. In that regard it is unimportant whether the steamer service is one on three days of the week or six days.
§ Mr. MUNROThe special carriage will carry all the fish which may be caught during those months, and whether the steamer service is on three days or six is absolutely immaterial from that point of view.
§ Mr. MUNROWhether my hon. Friend admits it or not that is my information. It is quite true there was a daily service before the War, and that the service was restricted solely on the ground of financial considerations. The point of view of the Treasury and the Government, is that they 826 do not feel justified in resuming that full service which would involve an additional burden on the taxpayer in the circumstances which exist to-day. My hon. Friend suggests a subsidy, but I thought subsidies were unpopular with the House at the present moment. Whether that be so or not it is the considered view of the Government that they would not be justified in saddling the taxpayer with the additional cost involved by the steamer service which he requires. He said to-day in a supplemental question, or suggested, that the extra cost of that service should be compensated by the extra revenue. I have had inquiries made and he may take it from me that that suggestion is without foundation. Under those circumstances, while I quite appreciate my hon. Friend's point of view, I am afraid I can hold out no hope in the immediate future that the. service will be increased to six days.
I should like to refer to one other matter which has been brought to my notice, and, of which I have received private notice from my right hon. Friend opposite (Sir D. Maclean). He has informed me that there has been a suggestion made in a certain part of his Constituency that land might be available for housing on the condition that the first claim on those houses should be open to ex-Service men. I understand from him that the suggestion met with some difficulty on the part of the Board of Health in acceding to that condition. t may say at once it seems to me to be generous and ample, and I shall take the earliest opportunity of conferring with the Board on this matter. So far as I can see there ought to be no difficulty whatever in acceding to the condition which, as I say, I think is, in the circumstances, most proper, and one which ought to be received with thanks.