§ 19. Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Labour the names of the chairmen of the court of referees for Glasgow; how many are practising solicitors; and what industrial experience they possess?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDThe chairmen of the Glasgow Court of Referees are Mr. Brownlie, Mr. Chalmers, Colonel Menzies-Anderson, Mr. Reid, Mr. Semple and Mr. Stewart. They are all practising solicitors. I do not know what the hon. Member means precisely by industrial experience, but I am satisfied that all these gentlemen are well qualified to carry out the duties of chairman impartially and efficiently.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at least one of those chairmen has been prominently identified with anti-Labour and anti-working-class opinion in the City of Glasgow; and is it true or not that all those men have been drawn from one political party and that some of them have had no industrial experience?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI am not aware of any of the circumstances just 2223 stated by the hon. Member. I have never inquired as to anything except the capacity of a person for the job. I am entirely unaware of their political opinions.
§ Mr. BUCHANANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Semple has been prominently identified with anti-working-class opinion, that he has had no industrial experience, and no experience except that of being a prominent member of the right hon. Gentleman's party?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI have no knowledge whatever of the points to which the hon. Member has alluded. I am not aware whether it is the fact or whether it is not, but I would never ask any person with whom I was connected to conceal his opinions on other occasions than those on which he has official duties, whatever those opinions may be. So far as industrial experience is concerned, I can say that, supposing they had been connected with industry, I should at once expect the objection that they were allied to the capitalist party or something of that kind.
§ Mr. BUCHANANI beg to give notice that I intend to raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.