§ MR. D. A. THOMASI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the ordinary shares of the majority of South Wales and Monmouthshire colliery companies quoted on the Cardiff Stock Exchange are below par, and that the ordinary shares of not more than four public South Wales colliery companies are quoted above par.
§ MR. COHEN (Islington, E.)Is it not a fact that in more than one case the South Wales coal companies declared dividends for the twelve months of from 100 to 180 per cent.?
§ *MR. HORNER (Lambeth, N.)asked whether one South Wales colliery company, known as the Bwllfa and Aberdare Dale Colliery Company, had not recently declared a dividend of 130 per cent., with an expression of regret that it was not larger.
§ MR. GERALD BALFOURI have no official information enabling me to verify the statements contained in the question.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASCannot the right hon. Gentleman regard the official Stock Exchange list at Cardiff as a sufficient authority?
§ *MR. SPEAKEROrder, order! Had I seen the question on the Paper I should have ruled it out of order, as it obviously deals with a matter not within the official knowledge or duties of the Minister to whom it is addressed.