§ 32. Mr. H. G. Williamsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the report of the marine committee of the Coal Appliances Manufacturers Association on the subject of the use of coal in preference to oil for the propulsion of ships; and state what action he hopes to take in respect of the matter?
§ Captain CrookshankYes, Sir. In the report referred to, the association claim that for certain classes of vessels, coal-fired steam-driven vessels using modem appliances have clear economic advantages over motor ships of the same size and speed. In view of the importance of the matter, both to the coal industry and to the other interests concerned, I have, with the approval of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, called a conference on 16th February of representatives of the shipping, shipbuilding, marine engineering and coal indusrties, and of certain other interested bodies, to discuss the report and consider whether, by co-operation between all the interests concerned, action can be taken to recover for coal a portion of the bunker trade which has been lost.