§ 54. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Prime Minister, whether he will, in future inquiries into the situation in the coal mining industry, ask for the figures of the Miners' Federation in addition to those supplied by the Coal Owners' Association?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Bonar Law)I cannot undertake to ask for figures from either side, but I shall be glad to use any figures that the Miners' Federation care to send me, provided that they are supplied on the same conditions as were the wages figures 1007 recently given me by the Mining Association, that is to say, that if they are not accepted by the other side, they will be open to investigation and audit. I did not ask for these figures; they were supplied to me voluntarily.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the use ofex parte statistics from the coalowners has created a bad impression among the miners, and will he take steps to remove that impression?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIf the figures are accurate they should not have created a bad impression, and they are open to audit by the representatives of the Miners' Federation.
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that even on that day they were challenged and found to be incorrect from beginning to end?
§ The PRIME MINISTERNo, I was not aware of that statement.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman agree that the Secretary of the Miners' Federation did contest the accuracy of the figures?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, but he did not take any opportunity of checking them.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that, when the figures had been rejected as inaccurate, the. Miners' Federation sought to have an inquiry into both parties' figures for the purpose of accuracy?
Lieut.-Colonel WATTS-MORGANAre we to understand from the Prime Minister now that the books of the coal-owners will be open to audit by anyone appointed by the Miners' Federation?
§ The PRIME MINISTEROh, yes.