Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Postmaster-General whether the firm of Messrs. Siemens, of Woolwich, is still executing work for the Post Office; and, if so, if he is aware that 65 per cent. of the shares in this company is held by Germans, that the firm has employed German workmen in the place of English workmen, who refused to work contrary to the rules and customs of the trade; and whether, under these circumstances, he will cancel any contracts that this firm may hold?
§ Captain NORTONMessrs. Siemens Brothers, of Woolwich, are still executing work for the Post Office as well as for other Government Departments. My right hon. Friend understands that although the company is a British company a large proportion of the share capital is held by Germans, and that the firm has employed a small number of German workmen; but my right hon. Friend does not think that these considerations outweigh the inconvenience to the public service and the adverse effect on a large staff of English workpeople which would result from the withdrawal of Post Office contract work. My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such cases as are mentioned in the question, but if the hon. Member will furnish particulars of the circumstances in which Messrs. Siemens are alleged to have infringed the rules and customs of the trade he will have inquiry made into the matter.
Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Under-Secretary for War if he is aware that the firms of Messrs C. E. Jennings and Messrs. Bobbins and Company, of Bristol, have secured large contracts or sub-contracts from the War Office, the first-named firm the new remount depot at Shirehampton and the other work at Salisbury; whether he is aware that neither of these firms pay the standard rate of wage to the carpenters employed by them nor conform to the hours of labour agreed to in the Bristol district; and whether he will take steps to cancel the contracts held by these firms?
Mr. BAKERI will have inquiry made.
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Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that the firms of Messrs. Halkes Brothers and Messrs. S. and R. Horton, Limited, of Lincoln, who had the contract for erecting temporary hospitals for wounded soldiers at Lincoln, paid a considerable number of the workmen employed on the contract 2d. per hour less than the standard rate of the district; and whether he will instruct these firms to pay the arrears of wage due to the men, and, if they refuse, to remove them from the list of firms invited to tender for War Office contracts?
Mr. BAKERAttention has already been called to this matter. It is understood that the contract was placed by the Territorial Association, to whom any representations should be addressed. The War Office is not a party to the contract.