HC Deb 10 April 1928 vol 162 cc1069-72
Mr. MACPHERSON

On a point of Order. I gave notice to the Prime Minister yesterday that I would put a question by private notice this afternoon. In accordance with the custom of the House, I asked your permission, Mr. Speaker, to be allowed to put it. I have been informed that I cannot put it, on the ground that the hon. Member for Thanet (Mr. E. Harmsworth) has a question down dealing with the same subject for to-morrow. The question is: To ask the Prime Minister if he will bring in a Bill to prohibit German boats from dumping fish at English ports and markets. I submit that my question had nothing to do with English ports or markets. I was dealing with the dispute at Aberdeen, which is rife at present, which does not involve legislation and is causing untold misery. I submit it was a legitimate question and an urgent one dealing with a matter of very great definite public importance.

Mr. SPEAKER

I have not a copy of the question, but the right hon. Gentleman will recollect that at. Question Time yesterday I told the hon. Member for Thanet that a question suggesting a remedy was one of which notice ought to be given. I really forget at the moment what was the suggestion in the right hon. Gentleman's question, but, if there be any doubt, I will let him put it.

Mr. MACPHERSON

My question is to ask the Prime Minister if he is aware that the fishing strike in Aberdeen is due to the landing by German trawlers of fish caught in the main in waters accustomed to be fished by British fishermen; whether he is aware that German trawlers are allowed to fish off the coast of Scotland where British trawlers are precluded; and whether, in view of the fact that no settlement of the serious strike at Aberdeen is likely to take place so long as these conditions exist, he will appoint a committee at once to inquire into the matter?

Captain ELLIOT

I understand that the men at Aberdeen have refused to go to sea owing to the landing by German trawlers of fish caught in Icelandic and North Sea waters, which are open equally to British fishermen. If German trawlers fish in the Moray Firth or in other areas from which British trawlers are excluded, they are prohibited by the Trawling in Prohibited Areas Prevention Act, 1909, from landing their catch at Aberdeen or at any other port in this country. In these circumstances I do not think that any good purpose would be served by the appointment of a Committee as suggested.

Captain Viscount CURZON

Is it not a fact that the protection vessels experience the greatest difficulty in finding where these catches have actually been got?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Is it not a fact that German trawlers are allowed to trawl in the Moray Firth, while Scottish trawlers are not allowed to trawl there? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the complaint of the fishermen at Aberdeen, and, indeed, of the fishermen all along the East coast of Scotland, is that these German trawlers not only are allowed to trawl there, but are allowed to deposit their fish, which they say has not been caught in Icelandic waters, but in Scottish waters?

Captain ELLIOT

The right hon. Gentleman's question is whether we are aware that the fishing strike in Aberdeen is due to the landing by German trawlers of fish caught, in the main, in waters accustomed to be fished by British fishermen. In this suggestion, the right hon. Gentleman is under a, misapprehension. The facts of the case show that the dispute at Aberdeen is very largely concerned with the landing of fish caught not within these prohibited waters, which is, after all, a small matter, but the landing of fish caught in Icelandic waters, in which the fishermen of all countries fish.

Mr. MACPHERSON

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that Scottish opinion, which ho tries to belittle, says that the fish are not caught, in the main, in those waters, but in waters where no British trawler is allowed to trawl, and that this is an injustice to Scottish fishermen? Further, is he aware that this is part of a very great question affecting the whole of the trawling, illegal and legal, round the coast of Scotland, and that this particular point in Aberdeen is merely bringing the matter to a definite issue? Is he aware, and is the Prime Minister aware, as Member for a Scottish constituency—

Mr. SPEAKER

The right hon. Gentleman had better put that question on the Paper.

Mr. PRINGLE

Can the Government see that these fish are marked under the Merchandise Marks Act?