WOOLWICH ARSENAL (COMMUNIST'S DISCHARGE). (Hansard, 14 November 1928)

§ 27. Mr. SAKLATVALA
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that an engineer named Percy Glading has been discharged from his employment at Woolwich Arsenal, where he was serving as a competent examiner, on account of his membership of the British Communist Party; and whether, before giving his sanction to this measure, he had taken the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown?

§ Mr. BRIDGEMAN
Glading was employed as a mechanic examiner, and he was discharged because of his being a Communist; the action taken was within the competence of the Admiralty.

§ Mr. SAKLATVALA
Is the right hon. Gentleman taking steps to discharge similarly other persons who are openly and avowedly pledged to obstruct the Government if the Government dares to declare a war anywhere?

§ Mr. COMPTON
In view of the fact that the General Council of the Trade Union Congress is in negotiation with the Prime Minister on this subject, did the right hon. Gentleman consult his Cabinet colleagues in the matter, and in view of the fact that it is the opinion of many on these benches that this question was deliberately put on the Paper in order to crab these negotiations—

§ Mr. SPEAKER
That matter does not arise out of the question.

§ Mr. SAKLATVALA
On a point of Order. How is a Member to protect himself when a deliberately lying charge is made against him?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
When any charge is made against any hon. Member, he can rely upon my protection.

§ Mr. SAKLATVALA
May I ask for your protection, Sir I give you my word of honour that I had not the least idea of any negotiations between the General Council and the Prime Minister, and I should have been the last person to put the question down if I had been warned not to do so. May I have your protection against this false charge?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
As soon as I heard the question of the hon. Member for Gorton (Mr. Compton) I told him the matter did not arise upon the question.

§ Mr. MAXTON
Can we have an answer to my hon. Friend's question to the First Lord?

§ Mr. SPEAKER
That did not arise on this question at all.

Mr. BECKETT
On a point of Order. It will be within your recollection, Sir, and that of other hon. Members that on previous occasions, when one Member has accused another in the terms which were used just now, he has been called upon to withdraw. If that is so with regard to the Prime Minister, why is it not so with regard to the hon. Member for North Battersea (Mr. Saklatvala)?