§ 4. Mr. Piratinasked the Minister of Labour how long have the Canadian boats, s.s. "Beaverbrae" and s.s. "Agramont" been in the London Port; and whether the Port of London Docks Board operated the full terms of the docks labour scheme from the time of the arrival of these two boats.
§ Mr. IsaacsThe "Beaverbrae" has been in the London Docks since 4th April last and the "Agramont" since 10th May. In reply to the second part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made in reply to a Private Notice Question by the right hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Eden) on 1st July.
§ Mr. PiratinIn view of the length of time that these boats have been in the London Port and the fact that at no time prior to two or three weeks ago did the Port authorities insist that these boats should be unloaded by the dockers, could the right hon. Gentleman explain why the Port authorities took this provocative action, which led to the present dispute?
§ Mr. IsaacsI have nothing to add to the reply which was previously given, and to which I have referred.
§ Mr. GallacherIs it not the case that there is a strike on these two boats carried on by a bona fide Canadian trade union—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."]—and that an American union is trying to destroy the Canadian union so that the Americans can get control of the Canadian seaboard?
§ Mr. SpeakerWe can debate this tomorrow and not now.
§ Mr. GallacherI shall have something to say tomorrow.