§ 1. Major Tufton Beamishasked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement explaining the causes of the strike of vehicle builders, the state of negotiations at the moment, and the causes of the delay between the failure to conclude an agreement and the commencement of official arbitration.
§ The Minister of Labour (Mr. Isaacs)The cause of this strike was failure to reach a settlement on a claim for increase of wages. My Department is in touch with the two sides, and I should prefer to make no further statement at present.
§ Major BeamishIs the Minister satisfied in general terms that the arbitration machinery for settling industrial disputes of this nature is working smoothly, efficiently and fast?
§ Mr. IsaacsI would not like to express an opinion on that without having had some notice of the question, so that I can examine it more closely.
§ Major BeamishSurely the right hon. Gentleman must have given a great deal of thought to this matter during the last two and a half years?
§ Mr. IsaacsYes, I have given a great deal of thought to it, but it is not the Question on the Order Paper.
§ Mr. McCorquodaleHas the right hon. Gentleman referred this dispute to the National Arbitration Tribunal?
§ Mr. IsaacsAt the moment the matter is back again for negotiation between the parties.