§ 71. Mr. Mainwaringasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to the position at the Insoles Colliery, Porth, Rhondda, where 1,200 workers are under notice to terminate contracts; whether he has any information as to the cause; and is there any likelihood of the colliery being abandoned?
§ Captain CrookshankI am informed that owing to the exhaustion of the better seams the output of this colliery has dropped to such an extent as to make the costs of production very high. As a result of this and of difficult workings the company has been incurring an almost consistent loss for many years until its liquid assets are now exhausted. Efforts to sell the colliery as a going concern have failed and the company is, therefore, dismantling the colliery and disposing of the gear. I am afraid that there is little chance of the colliery being re-opened.
§ Mr. MainwaringMay I assume that the Mines Department and the Government are fully aware of the disaster that is involved for the district of Porth in consequence of this colliery closing down, and that all the influence and material assistance of the Government will be available to support any practical scheme for continuing operations in this colliery?
§ Captain CrookshankI have not heard of any schemes in this matter. The fact is, as I stated in my answer, that efforts were made to sell it as a going concern and they were not successful.
§ Mr. MainwaringI understand from the reply that the colliery's resources are exhausted. May I assume that the Department has sound evidence on that 206 point? Will the Secretary of Mines accept from me that there are coal resources remaining and that this colliery can keep operating provided a practical scheme is drawn up?
§ Captain CrookshankIf there is a practical scheme no one would be more pleased than I, but I do not know that I can accept off-hand all the assumptions mentioned.