Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act by which it is enacted that Section 4 of the Act, which imposes a fine or imprisonment where a person employed by a municipal authority, or company, or contractor who has assumed the duty of supplying any town or place with gas or water wilfully breaks a contract of service with his employer, knowing that the probable consequences will be to deprive the inhabitants of their supply of gas or water, shall be posted by the employer in some conspicuous place where the same may be conveniently read by the persons employed, and as often as the copy becomes defaced or destroyed shall be renewed with reasonable despatch; and whether he will see that its provisions are complied with by municipal authorities, companies, and contractors under the penalties prescribed by the Act?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONMy attention has not been called to any case in which the provisions of Section 4 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, 1875, with regard to the posting of notices have not been complied with.
Colonel NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the general public has still the protection afforded by Clause 5 of the Conspiracy and Protection of Property Act, which enacts that a person wilfully breaking a contract of service with the probable consequences of causing bodily injury or endangering human life, or exposing valuable property to destruction, or to serious injury, shall be liable to a fine or to imprisonment; 1822W and, if so, is it his intention to make use of the same should the necessity occur?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, action is open to any person aggrieved. The Government have all needful powers under the Emergency Regulations.