§ Mr. WIGNALL(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the negotiations for an advance in wages of 12s. per week for men employéd in the tramways industry have broken down; whether he has been advised that since the last increase of wages was granted the cost of living has increased by 45 per cent., and now stands, according to figures issued by his own Department, at 176 per cent. above those 2115 for July, 1914; whether he is aware that the representatives of the workpeople offered to submit the question at issue to a Special Court of Arbitration and asked for a full investigation to be made in public into the whole of the circumstances; whether such suggestion of arbitration has been refused by tjie employérs' representatives; and what steps he proposes to take to avoid dislocation of the industry?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am aware of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers. This matter has been discussed by the National Joint Industrial Council for the Tramway Industry, and as far as I know is still before that body. I need hardly say that I should be ready to consider any representations whicb it may make to me if it desires to do so.
§ Mr. WIGNALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the private owners have withdrawn from the Council, and that now the Council is sustained only by the municipalities, and that yesterday the general machinery broke down by a refusal to carry out what is the order of this House; that failing agreement by mutual consent matters should be referred to arbitration or a court of inquiry? To that application the employérs have given an emphatic no; with a view to preventing this terrible strike which must of necessity follow, what steps is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to take?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWithout the evidence fully before me I do not know that what I coidd at he moment say would be of help, and I would ask my hon. Friend not to press me to make a statement.
§ Mr. A. SHORTBut is not the right hon. Gentleman going to take the necessary steps to bring these parties to gether, or are we going to allow the matter to take its course and the industry again to be dislocated; and is he aware that some 36 local authorities voted in favour of arbitration and 45 against, and that the 36 who desire arbitration employ a far greater number of men than the 45, and is it not a case for his interference?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes, I will do all I possibly can to bring the parties together. My hon. Friends and I are equally anxious that there shall not be a breakdown.