§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ VISCOUNT SANDHURSTMy Lords, this is an agreed Bill. Its object is to ensure the right of restoration of certain customs and practices to pre-war conditions. It will be remembered that in a spirit of patriotism the trade unions agreed to surrender those customs, and a distinct pledge was given by the Prime Minister and other Ministers on various occasions—notably at the Treasury and at the Caxton Hall meetings—that those pre-war customs should be restored. These customs refer, for example, to overtime, to Sunday time, night duty, and the employment of women and boys and others less skilled to do work which it would have been outside the trade union customs and rules to give to them. I need not remind your Lordships that at that time every ounce of power was needed for the provision of munitions. The trade unions loyally adhered to their undertaking, amid now it is the turn of the Government to fulfil their pledge—that these practices should be restored within two months after the passing of the Act, or from any earlier date of restoration, such restoration to remain in force for twelve months.
The Bill does not apply to new industries set up during the war. There are, of course, industries which are new to establishments for which such establishments 262 were equipped or set up. In such cases the employers introduced such trade union practices as obtained in establishments where those industries were carried on before the war under analogous conditions. May I add that there is a provision made in the, Bill for employers or trade unions to contract out of the obligations imposed by the Bill by way of agreement as to what the practice or conditions shall be; such questions, for example, as the employment of women, where they arise, may be settled by agreement. As I said before, this is an agreed Bill, and I move that it be read a second time.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a.—(Viscount Sandhurst.)
§ VISCOUNT HALDANEMy Lords, this is an agreed Bill, and therefore I do not wish to embarrass the Government. I only rise to ask whether they are satisfied that the second subsection to Clause 1 is quite clear. It proceeds on the principle of a double negative, which is always very difficult to interpret. I take it that it is quite clear that the Government mean that nothing in that subsection is to apply to any industry not established and organised before the war. During the war there have been great developments which have led to the establishment of new branches of industry. It would be very hard if the women who have taken a large part in those industries were to be cut out and precluded.
What I propose to do is to ask the noble Viscount to look at some words which I will give him, by which I intend to make it quite clear that no new industry is to be dealt with. I am purposely not putting it down as an Amendment, because I do not want to embarrass him; but if he thinks that the wording is a little obscure he might himself perhaps introduce an Amendment embodying the substance of my point.
§ VISCOUNT SANDHURSTI will naturally take the best advice I can get, and my noble and learned friend's words will, of course, receive the most careful consideration, in the genuine sense of the word.
§ VISCOUNT HALDANEI shall be quite satisfied if the Government will say that it is their intention to make it clear.
§ VISCOUNT SANDHURSTThe Bill does not touch new industries; but I will look at my noble and learned friend's words and take the best advice upon them.
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House.