§ Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House do now adjourn."—Mr. Gulland.]
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMay I ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can give us any information with regard to the coal industry?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)I feel sure the House will appreciate that it would not be expedient at the present moment for me to give more than a bald recital of the proceedings to-day, which lasted from ten o'clock in the morning till after seven o'clock in the evening. The Prime Minister met at the Foreign Office to-day, in response to his invitation, representatives of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain and representatives of the coal owners of the country. The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Foreign Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the President of the Board of Trade. The representatives of the Miners' Federation were the president, vice-president, the treasurer, and the secretary. The representatives of the coal owners included representatives from the federated area, South Wales, from Scotland, from Durham, Northumberland, the Forest of Dean, Bristol, and Somerset. The position in the various districts was explained by some of those present.
On the suggestion of the Prime Minister, the coalowners' representatives appointed a small committee for the purpose of further consultation with His Majesty's Government. The miners' representatives explained that a national conference had "been convened to meet in London on Tuesday next, and the meeting could not be held before that day. The Prime Minister 866 accordingly invited the conference, or a committee appointed by them, to meet him and his colleagues on that day.
§ Adjourned accordingly at Twelve minutes after Eleven o'clock.