HC Deb 19 June 1924 vol 174 cc2325-6
77. Mr. KIRKWOOD

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps lie proposes to take to deal with the passenger steamers owned by British railway companies and employing engineers stokers, and other employés between 60 and 90 hours per week; and whether he will introduce legislation to limit the hours of work of these employés to 48 hours per week, with the object of thus providing employment for a large number of skilled men?

Mr. ALEXANDER

The inquiry made by officers of the Board of Trade into the hours of work on the Clyde railway steamers shows that while there is no question of inefficiency or unseaworthiness, the hours worked by the officers and engineers in the summer season are very long, and the Board of Trade will ask the companies to consider whether some arrangement could be made which would obviate any just cause of complaint on this score. The regulation of hours of labour on board ship is a difficult problem, as it affects ships of all nations, and no undertaking can be given as to the introduction of legislation with regard to it.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that other nations have nothing to do with us? It is our own matter, and these ships are carrying our-mails. They are in the service of the Government, and therefore the Government are responsible. Is it not very necessary that they should do this because of unemployment amongst the engineers on the Clyde?

Mr. T. JOHNSTON

Will the Parliamentary Secretary give us an assurance that this demand shall be made upon the railway companies at once, and if an immediate and satisfactory reply is not received, that he will take steps at once to stop it?

Mr. ALEXANDER

I have already said that we are making representations upon the lines suggested by my hon. Friend to the railway companies, and we will do our very best in that matter. I cannot, however, give any pledge as to the action that will be taken. On the general question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbarton Burghs (Mr. Kirkwood), I. may say that the question of hours on board ship is an international question. It is true that these are river boats, but the difficulty is where to draw the line when a boat goes to sea and when it does not.