MR. BRYNMOR JONES (Swansea, District)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade has inquired into the causes and circumstances of the differences that have arisen between the Associated Coal Owners and other employers and the workmen formerly employed by them in their collieries in South Wales; if not, whether he intends to make such an inquiry, in pursuance of The Conciliation Act, 1896?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) CroydonI can assure the honourable Gentleman that every step has been taken by the Department to inform itself as to the circumstances and progress of the dispute.
§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)Will the right honourable Gentleman say what steps have been taken, where inquiries have been made, and from whom?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEInquiries have been made in Wales and on the spot. I do not think it desirable to state all the circumstances, but information is obtained through an efficient person on the spot.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASNot through the ordinary labour correspondent of the Board of Trade?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADENo. I do not say that we have not received information from our labour correspondent, but the inquiries I speak of have not been made through him.