§ 14. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Secretary for Mines the total quantity of coal exported from the port of Goole during the nine months ended September, 1933, and the comparative figures for the same period in 1932, 1931, and 1930?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThe quantity of coal exported from the port of Goole during the nine months ended September, 1933, was 512,127 tons, as compared with 548,139 tons, 764,509 tons and 1,097,032 tons during the corresponding periods in 1932, 1931 and 1930, respectively.
§ Mr. SMITHCan the hon. Gentleman say whether he has had any complaints that boats going into Goole cannot get coal?
§ Mr. BROWNI have had complaints, but the complaints have not been by any means substantiated. I would point out that the high shipments occurred during the period 1928–30, when the Collieries Central Commercial Association operated a scheme providing for a substantial export of coal from the Humber. If the hon. Member will invite me to supply figures back to 1928, he will find that in the state of the export trade Goole has not had an unfair share of the trade, as the figures he asks for tend to show.
§ Mr. SMITHIs it not a fact that Goole's export of coal is down, while that of other ports is up, compared with a year ago?