§ 19. Mr. MILLSasked the Minister of Labour if it has been decided to discontinue benefit to all men in the engineering trade: whether he is prepared to ascertain the length of time that many thousands of them have been unemployed before the present lock-out commenced, and for whom there is no possible chance of employment even were a settlement obtained; and will he state the intention of the Government in this matter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAWorkpeople in the engineering trade, who were thrown out of employment before the commencement of the present lock-out, and who were entitled to benefit, still remain entitled to benefit for the statutory number of weeks and are not affected by the occurrence of the dispute. It is not possible, except at great cost, to ascertain the length of time these workpeople have been unemployed.