§ 7. Mr. FIELDasked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been, or are being, made to supply Ireland with its proportion of coal supply?
Sir A. STANLEYThe returns of coal shipped to Ireland for six months ending 892 June show that that country has actually received its proportion of coal. The position from the beginning of July has been, and is still, affected by the influenza epidemic amongst the miners. The matter is under observation, but naturally available supplies have to be more or less regulated in accordance with the importance of consumers as regards the national interest.
§ Mr. FIELDWill the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to give us more information at the deputation to-morrow?
Sir A. STANLEYCertainly, the Coal Controller will bear in mind the points arising out of this question, and I shall be glad to call his attention to them and to ask him to fortify himself with the information necessary for to-morrow's meeting.
Mr. NUGENTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable scarcity of coal among the working classes in Dublin; that 130 councils and other borough councils in this country are permitted to purchase and re-sell quantities of coal, and thus to supply the small and working-class people in the district; and will he see that similar powers are given to borough councils in Ireland?
Sir A. STANLEYI would suggest that the hon. Member should raise these points at the deputation to-morrow. I would remind him that, so far as any shortage of coal is concerned, Ireland is no worse off than any other part of the United Kingdom.
§ 8. Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Irish Coal Controller has cognisance of the fact that Messrs. A. Guinness and Sons, brewers, Dublin, have stored at the Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin, some 50,000 tons of coal, which has lain there for nearly five years, and on which grass two feet high is growing; whether they have other large supplies at James Street and the North City Quay; and whether, in view of the number of persons in Dublin who are faced with the prospect of a fire-less winter, it is proposed that Messrs. Guinness should be allowed to accumulate and retain such large stocks of coal?
Sir A. STANLEYThe question of the stocks of coal held by Messrs. A. Guinness and Sons, Dublin, is under notice at the 893 present time, and the Controller's information is that the stocks do not approximate to anything like the quantity named by my hon. Friend; but an intimation has been conveyed to the firm that it may be necessary to divert a portion of their supplies.
§ Mr. FARRELLWill this include an order to the firm not to take coal already commandeered by the Coal Controller and dumped with them?
§ Mr. FARRELLIf I send the right hon. Gentleman the facts, will he direct an inquiry to the Irish Coal Controller?