§ 54. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the necessity, in the interests of the national welfare, of securing the cooperation of employers and employed in the avoidance of industrial strife and unrest, the Government will issue invitations to the representatives of the trade and industry of the country to meet once more in an industrial council; and whether they will give a pledge that they will submit in good faith the recommendations of the council to the sanction of Parliament should they require such sanction?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI would refer the Noble Lord to my reply to a question on this subject on Monday last by my Noble Friend the Member for Hitchin (Lord R. Cecil).
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that an industrial council would have a moderating influence upon the extreme 408 elements, both employers and employed, and that a common policy for tiding over the difficult time ahead of us might be evolved?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKI have done so. It is not an answer.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINWill the hon. Member read the answer once again, and he will see the reasons why the conference was not summoned. I have no reason to think we should be more successful in securing a conference of a representative character now than we were then.
§ Lord R. CECILDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think a conference, even if it failed to represent the three trades in question, would still be valuable in considering the present very difficult industrial position?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI doubt whether a conference would be of great value if the unions which declined to take part still abstained.
§ Lord R. CECILHas the right hon. Gentleman sent invitations to the three unions which declined to take part, or has he made any attempt to ascertain whether they would now do so?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWill the right hon. Gentleman have a little confidence in the goodwill of those concerned?