§ 61. Mr. BATEYasked the Secretary for Mines the number of collieries stopped, with the number of miners thrown out of work, since the beginning of January, 1927?
§ Colonel LANE FOX368 collieries which resumed work after the dispute have since stopped, and on 2nd July the total number of wage-earners on colliery books showed a reduction of 26,600 from the maximum reached since the general resumption of work.
§ Mr. BATEYAre the Government taking any steps to interview the owners in these cases, and see if they can get these collieries re-started?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe Government cannot make a colliery owner re-start his 2312 pits, but the hon. Gentleman should remember that every pit that is stopped means a very serious loss to the owner.
§ Mr. BATEYCannot the Mines Department interview the coalowners, and endeavour to get them to continue working?
§ Colonel LANE FOXIf I had any power to influence coalowners not to stop their pits, I would certainly use it, but no colliery owner would willingly stop his pit if were possible for him to carry it on.
§ Mr. SUTTONWhen these pits are stopped, do the coalowners notify the Mines Department and give the reasons for the stoppage
§ Colonel LANE FOXYes, Sir; we always get information when a pit is stopped, and we get the reasons.
§ Mr. HARRISIs it the policy of the right hon. Gentleman to prove that the Mines Department is useless, in order to get his Department closed?
§ Colonel LANE FOXNo, Sir; no one but the hon. Gentleman would suggest anything so foolish.