HC Deb 16 March 1933 vol 275 cc2139-40
76. Lieut.-Colonel KERR

asked the Secretary for Mines whether he is now in a position to announce the finding of the Scottish Commission of Investigation on the complaint made by the Hawick Co-operative Society against the standard tonnage allotted to the Wemyss Coal Company?

The SECRETARY for MINES (Mr. Ernest Brown)

The finding of the Scottish Committee of Investigation in this case is as follows:— The committee, having considered the complaint submitted by the Hawick Co-operative Society, Limited, unanimously resolve:

  1. 1. That in the opinion of the committee the complaint was reasonably brought by the complainers inasmuch as the reason given the complainers for some difficulty they experienced in obtaining coal was contained in a document beaded An Apology to our Customers ' issued 2140 by the Wemyss Coal Company Limited, alleging that shortage was due to the operation of the Coal Mines Act, 1930.
  2. 2. That the complaint as to the inadequacy of the standard tonnage allotted by the Executive Board to the Wemyss Coal Company, Limited, has not been substantiated and that the statements contained in the apology are in the opinion of the committee misleading. The evidence submitted to the committee suggests that the Wemyss Coal Company, Limited, have benefitted by the Act rather than otherwise."

Mr. GUY

Could the Secretary for Mines tell the House who are the members of this Committee?

Mr. BROWN

The members of the Committee of Investigation were as follow:

Name. Representing.
Sheriff G. Morton, K.C., M.A., LL.B., Chairman —
W. Elger, Esq., J.P. Consumers.
Donald A. Matheson, Esq, Consumers.
M.V.O., J.P R. W. Brown, Esq, Owners of coal mines in the district.
A B. Clarke, Esq., J.P. Workers employed in or about such coal mines.