HC Deb 23 June 1910 vol 18 cc620-1W
Colonel RAWSON

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the statement of Messrs. Houlder Brothers that they had not authorised the signing of the agreement of 21st May on their behalf, he will say whether any of the signatures to the agreement purported to be on behalf of Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Company; whether, in view of the fact that any question with shipowners arising at Newport is capable, in the event of difference occurring, of being subsequently raised under Clause 3 of the agreement of 21st May, he will say whether any, and, if so, what shipowners were parties to that agreement; and (3) whether the agreement purports to be signed on behalf of any and, if so, what shipowners; and, if so, by whom it purports to be signed on their behalf?

Mr. BUXTON

I would refer the hon. Member to the Debate which took place yesterday in the House of Commons on the question of the Newport dispute.

Colonel RAWSON

also asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that any question with other shipowners arising at Newport is capable, in the event of difference occurring, of being subsequently raised under Clause 3 of the agreement of 21st May, and in view of the fact that the members of the unions who were parties to the submission to arbitration of the principle at issue in the Newport dock dispute have declined to be bound by the award of the Board of Trade umpire, he proposes, if the same issue is raised by any other firm of shipowners than Messrs. Houlder Brothers and Company, Limited, namely, their right to employ men for the loading of general cargoes at daily rates of wages, to request those shipowners under the agreement in question to submit the same principle once more to arbitration; and, if so, whether it is intended to adopt this procedure in the case of each individual firm of shipowners by whom the question may be raised?

Mr. BUXTON

I cannot answer a hypothetical question of this ature.

The HON. and GALLANT MEMBER

further asked whether the National Amalgamated Labourers' Union and the Dock, Wharf, Riverside, and General Labourers' Union were parties to the submission to arbitration of the principle at issue in the Newport Dock dispute; and whether the award of the umpire is binding upon all the members of those unions?

Mr. BUXTON

The agreement submitting the dispute to arbitration was signed by certain officials of the unions named as representing the men on strike.