§ 29. Mr. WHITELEYasked the Secretary for Mines whether his Department are considering the desirability of securing a return of the prices paid for transfer coal in order that the information regarding the coal industry may be as complete as possible?
§ Commodore KINGThe Quarterly Statistical Summaries issued by my Department give particulars for each district and for the country as a whole of the quantities and values of all coal commercially disposable. It is not practicable to give details of the prices of the widely different qualities and sizes of coal which go to make up the sum total—and without such information aggregated figures of the prices paid for transfer coal, even if obtainable, would be of little value and would be misleading.
§ Mr. WHITELEYIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that we are not able to get to know exactly what the prices of transfer coal are? There have been one or two cases where it has been shown that the prices were too low, and have had to be raised, and, even then, we have not been able to get the original price, and for the people working the coal it is essential to know exactly what the prices are?
§ Commodore KINGThe hon. Member understands that the question of transfer coal is dealt with by district committees, and the joint auditors of the owners and the men have full access to all the books showing the prices of transfer coal.
§ Mr. WHITELEYThe auditors of the men may have access, but the men are not allowed to see the honks, and the 975 auditor is not allowed to give the men information; that is the point I want the Minister to take into consideration.
§ Commodore KINGYes, Sir; the auditors are the representatives of the men, and the auditors are given full particulars.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs it not a fact that the auditors are not permitted to investigate the books as they desire to investigate them; that the Yorkshire Miners' Association had to appeal to an umpire to get permission for that to take place, and that they succeeded in justifying their claim?
§ Commodore KINGYes, I understand that there was a dispute, and that they were given the books they required.
§ Commander WILLIAMSWould it not be quite easy to get the figures if the miners only had good leaders?