§ 47. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Prime Minister whether, in connection with the present coal situation, he has had his attention called to the advantages of a national coal trust, propounded in detail in 1893, and accepted at the time by a large section of the coal owners, from which large savings would result; and whether he can take any steps to secure that these savings shall be used to cheapen the selling price of coal and raise the wages of the coal miners?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe Prime Minister is aware of the proposals put forward in 1893, and of the advantages claimed for them. As the hon. Member is aware, co-operation in the selling of coal is recommended by the Royal Commission, and is a subject to which the colliery owners have undertaken to give "careful and immediate consideration."
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIn view of the gravity of this question at the present time, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that co-operation in the selling of coal forms only a very small part of the proposals put forward by Sir George Elliot, a leading coal master in the county of Durham, in 1893, and that the chief saving was not 2193 in the selling of coal at all, but in the waste and inefficiency which have gone on for the past 33 years, because nothing has been done with his proposals; and can the right hon. Gentleman assure the House that the proposals have been considered in the recent negotiations, and, if so, with what results?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think I would sooner not make a statement at the present moment on behalf of the Prime Minister. As the House knows, he has been for days past, and is at the moment, engaged on the coal question, and I would ask the hon. Member not to press this question.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONIn view of the appeal, I do not press the point further, but I do ask the right hon. Gentleman to represent to the Prime Minister that these proposals were carefully laid before the country, were approved of by the majority of the coal lessees at the time, and that Sir George Elliot allowed for an immediate increase of wages to the coalminers of 10 per cent. [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"] Is it the case that these proposals would have secured an immediate increase of wages, a reduction of the selling price of coal, and brought peace into the industry; and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that his proposals will be immediately brought before the Prime Minister?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI will, of course, undertake to tell him of the hon. Member's question, and draw his attention to it.