§ 9. Mr. KENNEDYasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to the lock-out of road-stone quarrymen in the West of Scotland; and if any action has been taken by his Department in this matter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe attention of the Ministry of Labour has been drawn to this dispute, and the parties were invited to attend a conference under the auspices of the Department on the 22nd April. The owners, however, were of opinion that no good purpose could be served by this course, as they had already held several meetings with the workpeople's representatives, and, having regard to the fall in selling prices, they could not hold out better terms than those which had already been offered, namely, a limitation in the reduction of rates of wages to 10 per cent. for a fixed period of six months. The Department has suggested to the parties than they should refer the dispute to arbitration, but so far neither party has agreed to this suggestion.