§ Mr. ANDERSONasked the Minister of Munitions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Arthur Smith, employed by Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth and Company, of Newcastle, who, without receiving notice to attend the North-East Coast Munitions Tribunal, was sentenced in his absence to a fine for creating a disturbance at work; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe facts in this case are not quite as stated by my hon. Friend. It appears that a notice to appear on Wednesday, 1st September, at the local Munitions Tribunal, at Newcastle-on-Tyne, was delivered under registered cover at Smith's place of lodging, on the morning of Tuesday, 31st August, but owing to a mistake on the part of his landlady, the letter was not handed to Smith till the evening of Wednesday after the trial. Smith was fined in his absence, but upon his stating his case to the tribunal, he was allowed to attend a subsequent sitting to be heard. I am informed by Smith that he was told by the tribunal that his case would be submitted to me. I am accordingly in communication with the chairman in the matter.