HC Deb 14 February 1917 vol 90 c620
47. Mr. WING

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of steps being taken for avoiding the call for volunteers by the Director-General of National Service for coal-mining, as the pits in the North are not fully engaged and much broken time is being experienced by miners already willing to work?

Mr. ARTHUR HENDERSON

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Director-General of National Service has laid down the principle that men should not be brought into a district to do work for which there are already men in the district equally capable; and this principle will be applied to mining no less than to other essential industries.