§ Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the fact that at Annesley Colliery, Nottinghamshire, 200 colliers have been threatened with dismissal unless they join the Nottinghamshire Miners' Industrial Union; and whether, in the interests of industrial peace, he will take steps to deal with this matter?
§ Mr. TURNERI am aware of the circumstances referred to. I am informed, by way of explanation, that it has been 1533W the policy of this company, for many years, to make it a condition of employment that their workmen shall be members of the trade union with which the employers have concluded the agreement which regulates the conditions of work; and that all their workmen upon engagement accept this condition. The company, however, have now offered to consider the matter further, and not to discharge any workmen till they have communicated with me again.
§ Mr. COCKSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that immediately after the formation on 16th June of a branch of the Nottinghamshire Miners' Association at Bilsthorpe colliery, Nottinghamshire, the president, treasurer, and two members of the committee of the branch were dismissed from the colliery, whilst a delegate of the branch was informed by an official of the colliery that he would be discharged if he continued to have anything to do with the Nottinghamshire Miners' Association; and whether he intends to institute an inquiry on this matter?
§ Mr. TURNERWith regard to the first matter I am informed that the four men referred to were presumably four out of 15 men who were dismissed as a result of a certain face being closed. The total number so displaced was 70, of whom 55 were absorbed in other parts of the pit and 15 could not be so absorbed. I am assured that the selection of none of the 15 was due to their trade union membership or activity. I am further assured that the policy of the Nottinghamshire Coal Owners Association and of the owners of Bilsthorpe Colliery remains as stated to representatives of the Trade Union Congress last year, namely, "that they make no inquiry or discrimination with regard to a man's employment as to his membership of any Trade Union." With regard to the second matter, I am assured that if any such intimation was given (and this is denied), it was contrary to the policy and definite instructions of the owners and manager.