Sir Douglas Hacking: May I ask, with due respect, whether you did call that Amendment?
Sir Douglas Hacking: I beg to move, in page 2, line 26, after "any" to insert "class or classes of." I must accept your Ruling, Mr. Deputy-Chairman. This is the first of a series of Amendments designed to ensure that classes of workers are dealt with and not the individual workers of individual undertakings within any particular class. I hope the Minister will realise what I mean by classes. The Commission is...
Sir Douglas Hacking: Does that mean that there will be no differentiation between classes of workers in any particular type of undertaking? That is what I want to avoid. It is the intention of my Amendment to avoid discrimination or difference in treatment between workers engaged in any one particular class of industry or undertaking.
Sir Douglas Hacking: I am inclined to take the advice of my hon. and gallant Friend and keep my thunder for a later stage. I do not press this Amendment, though I am not completely satisfied with what the Solicitor-General said.
Sir Douglas Hacking: I beg to move, in page 2, line 26, after "applies," to insert: and if in their opinion the remuneration and conditions of employment of those workers are unsatisfactory, and accordingly require further regulation. I think this is an Amendment on which one's thunder ought to be used. We attach a good deal of importance to this Amendment. Under the Clause as it is at present drafted, I...
Sir Douglas Hacking: I beg to move, in page 2, line 46, at the end, to add: (3) Before making any report to the Minister under this section the Commission, if they think it desirable, may hold a formal inquiry with respect to the subject upon which the report is to be made, or direct such an inquiry to be held and a report to be made to them thereon by a competent and impartial person not in the employment of any...
Sir Douglas Hacking: So far as I know, there has been no opposition to this Bill which was in any sense unparliamentary. The Debate has taken a very fair course. I would point out to the Government that when we desired on Second Reading to suspend Standing Orders in order that there should be a full Debate, the Government resisted. We did not resist them to-day when they moved the suspension. We are still...
Sir Douglas Hacking: On a point of Order. Is it Parliamentary to accuse other Members of obstruction?
Sir Douglas Hacking: I think the right hon. Gentleman is a little greedy in expecting to get Clause 5 in any reasonable time. I am only expressing my own view. [Interruption.] The right hon. Gentleman has asked me whether I would give an undertaking. So far as it is possible for me to give an undertaking—and if I may say so with all due modesty, I think I can carry some weight with my colleagues—I believe...
Sir Douglas Hacking: Before we pass from this Clause, which I consider to be a very important one, I think it right that someone on this side should offer a few observations. This, to my mind, is the main operative Clause. It sets up, in effect, the wages board. The whole principle for dealing with wages, conditions of employment and other matters is dependent on this Clause. That principle is the wage-board...
Sir Douglas Hacking: I am dealing with a specific point. We are dealing now with the setting-up of wages boards.
Sir Douglas Hacking: I am personally rather in favour of a trade union organisation and that type of bargaining power, I would much prefer it myself to wages boards. I am surprised that the hon. Member says that the reason why trade unions have not been able to get any foot- hold is because of the action of the employers. I honestly do not believe that, but that it is because the workers in this industry are...
Sir Douglas Hacking: I am not quoting what anybody else has said. These happen to be my own words, and an opinion that I was expressing. I hope that I am entitled to express my opinion in this House as well as anybody else. I say frankly that I am not opposed to, and, in fact, I would favour a trade union organisation and collective bargaining of that kind to this system. I do not like this system, but let me...
Sir Douglas Hacking: And long-suffering, probably brought upon his own shoulders very largely. I do not think it is all hon. Members on this side of the Committee. He may be long-suffering and may live to regret it, because long-suffering sometimes means long sitting, but I hope it will not mean that. I think that at the back of the mind of the Minister of Labour is the wish to drive workers into a trade union...
Sir Douglas Hacking: May I ask whether there is likely to be a prolonged discussion on the first Order on the Paper for to-day—"War Damage (Amendment) Bill; Consideration of Lords Amendments"?
Sir Douglas Hacking: Before the first Amendment is called, Major Milner, might I suggest that it would be for the convenience of the Committee if you would indicate the Amendments you intend to call in order to give us an opportunity of considering the position?
Sir Douglas Hacking: Will the hon. Gentleman read the definition in Clause 17 (2). It is quite clear that such a person will be within this Act.
Sir Douglas Hacking: Will the Solicitor-General tell me how it is to be found out whether a person definitely is or is not sharing in the profits?
Sir Douglas Hacking: Who is going to find out about the individual case?
Sir Douglas Hacking: I beg to move, in page I, line 21, to leave out from "undertaking" to the end of the Clause, and to add: Provided that such workers shall not include any person who is not wholly or mainly employed in one or more of the said activities or any person whose employment is wholly or mainly connected with administration, accounting or management. It is well to note the words which it is proposed...