HC Deb 18 February 1926 vol 191 cc2130-1W
Mr. MACLEAN

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that several of the bandsmen of the Irish Guards are playing at the Pavilion Cinema., Tooting; that a trade dispute is in existence between the Musicians' Union and the directors of the Pavilion Cinema, Tooting, and, those bandsmen are interfering with, and taking the places of, the musicians involved; if the policy of the War Office permits such action on the part of Army bandsmen, in a dispute where four-fifths of the men involved are ex-service men; and what steps he will take to put a stop to such competition between Army and civilian musicians?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

I am informed that two musicians of the Irish Guards play in the orchestra at this Cinema. They are not receiving less than the Musician's Union rates of pay, nor are they taking the place of men on strike, and I am not aware of any grounds for interference by the War Office in regard to their engagement. The competition in this case appears to be between one orchestra and another, not between Army and civilian musicians.