§ 34. Mr. SAMUEL SAMUELasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the threatened political strike of the National Union of Railwaymen and the Transport Workers' Federation, he will introduce a Bill to repeal the Trades Disputes Act, and to make it a criminal offence to interfere with men in the execution of their work seeing that there is no dispute or question between the employers and employés in those trades?
45. Sir F. HALLasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the manifesto issued jointly by the Miners' Federation, the National Union of Railwaymen, and the Transport Workers' Federation, on the eve of the renewal of the negotiations to settle the coal difficulty; whether, having regard to the character of this document, the Government will appoint a Royal Commission to inquire into the matter, and to report on the question of the need, or otherwise, of amending existing legislation so as to prevent revolutionary agitation under the guise of legitimate labour activities; if the Government will include in the reference to such Commission, if appointed, an instruction to report as to the extent to which the workers themselves are consulted before a strike is declared; and whether it should be laid down that all union members shall be balloted before a strike is called that threatens the national existence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer is in the negative. Nothing would provoke more serious industrial trouble than an attack on the privileges conceded from time to time by Parliament to trades unionism.
§ Mr. S. SAMUELThe Trade Union Bill was passed with the object of protecting the working classes from oppression. Seeing that it is used for other purposes, will the right hon. Gentleman amend it so as to protect workers who want to work?
Sir F. HALLDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it advisable in the interest of industry as a whole that people should be able to go out under the guise of peaceful picketing and bring out from the workshops those who are desirous of continuing their work and earning their living?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI agree it is possible under certain circumstances that these privileges, like all others, may be abused, but there is nothing which would tend to accentuate the suspicion that has been spread abroad that there is a concerted attack upon trade unionism than any sort of legislation which would be attacking trade unionism.
Sir F. HALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in Question 45 there was no suggestion of that, and does he not think it might assist if a Royal Commis- 1527 sion were held to go into the whole question, and perhaps also deal with the Trade Disputes Bill at the same time?
§ Sir W. DAVISONDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it desirable that it should be made a penal offence for any persons to leave their employment without due notice when they are responsible for services that are essential to the life of the community?
§ 41. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the probability of the frequent occurrence in the near future of disputes consequent on the transition of the industries of this country from a war to a peace status, he will appoint a tribunal or commission, presided over by a chairman having the confidence of both employers and workers, to which shall le entrusted the task of deciding at what point above the pre-War wage a new basis rate should be fixed and of arranging above that rate a sliding scale variable with the fall in prices?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)I have been asked to reply. The suggestion appears to assume that it is practicable to adopt some universally identical and applicable method for the automatic adjustment of wages generally. This, I think, is not so. Relevant considerations to be taken into account vary considerably. It is the desire of the Government that the parties in each industry should discuss these matters by joint negotiation. To this end the Government have assisted in setting up joint industrial councils and other similar organisations; and these, together with existing conciliation machinery, cover by far the greatest part of industry. For the most part, the different industries of the country are dealing with their difficulties by means of joint negotiations of this character. Where they fail to agree, a voluntary joint reference to the industrial court is open to them, and I venture to take this opportunity to urge that employers and employed generally will see their way to adopt the method of arbitration in cases in which they have found it impossible, by ordinary negotiations, to reach a settlement of the very difficult questions with which they are faced at this time.