§ Mr. SITCHasked the Minister of Labour whether the National Federation of Women Workers have repeatedly remonstrated with the Minister with regard to the constitution and procedure of the Industrial Court on the grounds that no representative of organised women is a member of the Court, and that cases concerning women have been repeatedly referred to a single member of the Court; whether a deputation from the Federation on these points was received by Sir David Shackleton, representing the Ministry of Labour; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he proposes to amend the constitution and procedure of the Industrial Court?
§ Sir R. HORNERepresentations, as stated, have been made to me. Two cases have occurred in which a single member was appointed by the Industrial Court to' hear claims affecting women. This arrangement is in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Courts Act, and no doubt the President of the Court, in the exercise of his discretion under the Act, considered that the cases were such as could, with advantage, be dealt with in this way. The suggestion that a representative of organised women should be a member of the Court has been carefully considered, but as at present advised I do not consider such an addition to the Court to be necessary, having regard to the fact that the Court can call in the aid of assessors where such a course seems expedient. I might also point out that it should be understood that the members of the Court, whatever interests they may have represented in the past, are appointed to exercise the functions of arbitrators without any leaning to either side.