§ 35. Mr. TINKERasked the Minister of Labour if his attention has been drawn to a stoppage of work at three firms of nut and bolt makers at Atherton, Lancashire, where some 400 male and female workers are at present prevented from working; that the employers refuse to meet the workers' representatives; and what steps his Department are prepared to take to bring the parties together?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI have been in correspondence with the hon. Member for West Ham (Mr. Thorne), who is the general secretary of the union concerned in this dispute, and I understand that he is dealing with the matter. On the information before me, I do not understand that intervention by a third party is necessary for the purpose of arranging a meeting between the parties.
§ Mr. TINKERI think that, as the Member for the division, I have a right to call the Department's attention to this matter.
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI fully appreciate that position, but, as the hon. Member knows, this is a very difficult dispute, and any further statement which I might make at present might be rather embarrassing than otherwise. If the hon. Member will get into communication with the hon. Member for West Ham (Mr. Thorne), I think he will learn all that he desires to know on this question.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not the Minister perfectly well aware that the conditions under which the nut and bolt workers work are deplorable and will he let those workers know that he is siding with them against their employers?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThere is no justification whatever for that suggestion. I have said that I have reason to understand that a meeting between the parties either has taken place or is about to take place.