47. Captain COOTEasked the Prime Minister what is the position with regard to the draft Bill to restore the right to 1718 strike and keep up wages for six months, stated to have been submitted to a joint committee of employers and men?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Sir Robert Horne)I have been asked to answer this question. The prohibition against strikes, contained in Part 1 of the Munitions of War Act, 1915, was removed by the repeal of that part of that Act by Section 6 of the Wages (Temporary Regulation) Act, 1916. This Act also maintains wages at their existing level for a period of six months from the date on which it was passed, namely, 21st November, 1918. The question of the future method of dealing with war wage advances is now under consideration by a Joint Committee set up as a result of the recent Industrial Conference.