§ Mr. CROFTasked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the authoritative estimates based on official German returns showing that in the past five years food prices in Germany had increased by 13.6 per cent. and miners' wages by 20 per cent. over the preceding five years; and whether he will bring up to date the information on these matters contained in the Report on the Cost of Living in German Towns?
Mr. BUXTONI am not aware of any authoritative comparisons of the relative rise in the wages of German miners and of food prices. Many unofficial statistics of the kind quoted by the hon. Member are published from time to time in connection with current controversies in Germany as to the effect of the rise in prices on the purchasing power of the working classes in that country. The Report on Cost of Living in German Towns dealt with the facts at a given date. The information was obtained by personal inquiries in Germany, which occupied a very considerable time and involved great labour and expense. In order to bring the figures up to date similar prolonged and costly inquiries would be necessary, and the Board of Trade cannot, I fear, at present undertake this work.
§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason why miners' wages have been increased in Germany to the extent of 20 per cent. is because they have powerful trade unions?