§ 7 and 8. Mr. J. HUDSONasked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) whether, in connection with the strike of employés of the Burma Oil Company at Madras, he will state the nature of the grievances alleged by the strikers; and whether any action has been taken by the labour commissioner to help the employés affected to place their case before the company;
(2) whether his attention has been drawn to the clash which occurred on 10th May between the employés of the Burma Oil Company at Madras and other members of the company's establishment when the latter opened fire on the strikers; whether he will state the number of casualties resulting from this 882 action; and whether any arrests have been made among those responsible for firing?
§ Earl WINTERTONThe origin of the strike which began on 19th April among the Burma Oil Company's employés was the removal on 21st March of a bench used by three or four men, and a notice suspending 94 men on the ground that alterations were going to be made to certain machines. The Assistant Labour Commissioner took a deputation from the men to the management, and the management agreed to take back all the men sent away on 19th April and promised to give a bench for the four men affected by its removal within one week after the men rejoined for duty, but the men raised other points to which the management did not agree. The Asiatic Petroleum Oil Company's employés struck on 9th May. On 10th May strikers from both companies employés obstructed and attacked three petrol lorries. The installation staff went to rescue the lorries, whereupon the strikers threw stones and caused many injuries both to the staff and the police. The installation staff fired several shots with private firearms and also retaliated with stones. Fifteen strikers were injured, six severely and the rest slightly. The installation staff retreated to their buildings, whereupon the strikers burnt two lorries. The Chief Presidency Magistrate and the Commissioner of Police are holding an inqury.
§ Mr. HUDSONCan the Noble Lord say how it came about that the police were not armed on this occasion, and what special permission had been given to the installation staff to carry arms and use them in this way?
§ Earl WINTERTONIf the hon. Member requires any further information on those points, he had better put a question down. I have given him all the information in my possession.
§ Mr. HUDSONHas the Noble Lord any information about the taking away of the benches, not only from the three or four members to whom he referred, but practically from the whole of the workers concerned?
§ Earl WINTERTONI have already said that I have given the hon. Member all the information in my possession in my lengthy answer.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the report be available to hon. Members of this House?
§ Earl WINTERTONI will inquire into that and see if it is possible.