§ 87. Mr. WINGasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will send down at once a Commissioner in order that the control and distribution of orders for coal may be more equitable, and thus prevent social conditions arising which may be difficult to control?
§ Mr. WARDLEArrangements already exist for obtaining information as to the amount of time lost at the different collieries, and this information is now being utilised for the purpose of securing the allocation of orders to collieries urgently in need of trade. The Controller of Coal Mines is arranging for the matter to be investigated in the district on his behalf.
§ 94. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the delay in the delivery of coal wagons back from the collieries is causing great inconvenience to small consumers, especially in some munition areas; and will he see what action can be taken to give greater facilities for transport?
§ Mr. WARDLEThe railway companies are fully alive to the importance of quick transits to coal wagons to and from collieries. Investigations have shown that delays are principally due to the excess number of traders' wagons received at collieries, resulting in congestion in colliery and railway sidings and necessitating restrictions being enforced by railway companies on returning empty traders wagons. The whole question is being considered with a view to finding a remedy.
§ Captain DOUGLAS HALL (by Private Notice)asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has any information to give the House regarding the serious strike at Cowes (Isle of Wight), involving 6,000 men, mostly engaged on important Admiralty work and threatening the steam and railway communication between the island and mainland and other Government work, and if the strike is entirely due to the inability or delay of the Coal 583 [Captain D. Hail.] Controller and Shipping Controller to regulate the excessive retail price of coal in the island amounting to over £3 per ton?
§ Mr. WARDLEThis matter has been brought to my notice by the Controller of Coal Mines. The problem is almost entirely one of sea freight, and the Minister of Shipping has been asked to deal with the question of freights. The Controller of Coal Mines has endeavoured to secure that more coal shall be rail borne to ports adjacent to the Isle of Wight, but, due to the absence of facilities at these ports for shipping coal, it has not been possible to achieve this.
§ Captain HALLDid not the Board of Trade hold an inquiry over six months ago and is this the best remedy they can now offer to help the islanders in this trouble?
§ Mr. WARDLEI think the remedy which has been suggested will be adequate provided the Minister of Shipping can arrange with regard to freights so that a reduction in price can be achieved.
§ Captain HALLHas not the Shipping Controller control of German interned vessels, and is he not charging most excessive rates to the wholesale coal-dealers for the use of those vessels?
§ Mr. WARDLEThat is a matter the hon. and gallant Gentleman must put to the Shipping Controller.
§ Colonel Sir C. SEELYIs it not a fact that the price of coal in the island has gone up since the Coal Controller was appointed something like 10s. to 14s. a ton, although the rise in the actual amount received by colliery owners is only half-a-crown, and will the hon. Gentleman ask whether the Coal Controller could not give his attention to these various deficiencies of coal and not try to manage the whole coal business of the country from an office in London, which results in a large surplus of coal being distributed where it is not wanted?
§ Captain HALLI beg to give notice that owing to the unsatisfactory reply I have received I shall raise this question on the Adjournment of the House.