§ 44. Mr. OLIVERasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to a recent decision of many of the coal merchants of London to increase the price of coal by 2s. per ton; and can he explain the cause of this increase?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am aware that the retail prices of house coal in London were increased by 2s. per ton on the 29th November, except for best coal and anthracite. I am making inquiries as to the cause of the increase.
§ Mr. OLIVERCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether any of this increase in price can be in any way attributed to any increase in the cost of production of coal?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThat is one of the circumstances into which I am inquiring.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONMay I ask what the right hon. Gentleman proposes to do when he has made his inquiries? Does he propose to make a statement to the House?
§ Mr. WESTWOODAre we to understand that this increase is due to the eight-hours day?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI shall be better able to say what is going to be done when I know what the results of the inquiries are. As to the eight-hours day, that has obviously nothing whatever to do with it.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the increase in pit costs does not amount to more than a few coppers per ton, and does he not think that immediate action ought to be taken against these people who are exploiting the public?
§ Colonel LANE FOXI am asking some of the gentlemen concerned to come to see me about it.
§ Mr. MORRISONIf I put down a question in a week's time, will the right hon. Gentleman then have completed his inquiries and be able to make a statement to the House as to the reason for this increase of 2s. a ton?
§ Colonel LANE FOXCertainly, I wilt tell the hon. Gentleman all I can.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs the right hon. Gentleman taking the wholesale prices between the mines and distribution in London, now and a month ago, in order to find out whether there is any increase of any kind that gives ground for making an increased charge?
§ Colonel LANE FOXYes, Sir, that is exactly the sort of thing that is being inquired into, but it is not easy to know the exact wholesale price of any particular class of coal.
§ Mr. HARDIE rose
§ Mr. SPEAKERLieut.-Commander Kenworthy.