§ 59. Mr. HOLLANDasked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that local authorities, who are now paying the increased price for their coal supplies, do in fact take steps to ensure that their orders for coal are so placed that the increase is passed on to the miners in the form of wages?
§ Sir K. WOODMy sanction, in so far as it is required, to local authorities to pay an increased price for coal supplied under existing contracts has been given on the condition that the whole of the increase will be utilised for the payment of increased wages to the miners. I have no reason to suppose that this condition will not be observed, and it will be for the district auditor to see that the necessary guarantees from contractors have been obtained.