§ 59. Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD - BURYasked the Secretary of State for War why instructions have been given by him that all engagements of military bands for public or private functions must be submitted to the Musicians' Union before acceptance, seeing that the union have insisted that prohibitive rates are to be charged for functions much in excess of trade union rates?
§ Mr. WALSHThis arrangement was made in order to facilitate the ascertainment of local rates, and to obviate complaints that rates lower than local rates were being charged. If the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars of any case in which he thinks that the arrangement has been abused. I shall be glad to investigate it.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYHas the policy of allowing a trade union to dictate to the men under the right hon. Gentleman's control what they are to do now been permanently adopted?
§ Mr. WALSHI can only say this. It has always been recognised as being desirable that the rates charged by the military shall not come into unfair competition with those paid to trade unionists. That has always been recognised, long before this Government came into power. We have only endeavoured to carry out during the last six or eight months a practice which had long obtained.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is very great dissatisfaction?