§ Mr. BIGLANDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the action of the Trade Union Typographical Society in refusing to allow women to work on linotype machines and as compositors is interfering with recruiting; and whether he can see his way to issue an Order in Council that where newspaper proprietors have linotype machines lying idle they shall be permitted to engage and train women to work on these services during the period of the war, provided the hours of labour are restricted between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.?
§ Mr. FORSTERI understand that an agreement as to the relaxation of trade union rules and customs during the war has been reached between the Typo-888W graphical Association and the employers in the general printing trade, and that conferences between the employers' and workers' representatives in the newspaper section of the trade are now being held to consider the situation in the London area. If my hon. Friend can facilitate similar conferences in the provincial section of the trade it will be of great assistance.