§ 1. Colonel YATEasked the President of the Board of Trade what extent the canals have now been able to take over the transport of coal and other minerals and so to free the railways for the carriage of other goods?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Albert Stanley)I cannot give figures showing the additional amount of coal and other minerals which is being carried over the canals, but all canal 571 boats for which crews can be obtained are working at the present time, and it is hoped that the steps which are being taken by the Canal Control Committee, in conjunction with the Controller of Mines, may still further increase the amount of coal carried on the canals.