§ 54. Lieut.-Colonel Heneageasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction amongst the trawler-owners and certain industrial concerns as to the rise in the price of coal in the last few years; and what action he intends to take to obviate the present difficulty in getting the committees set up to obtain redress for the consumers?
§ Mr. GrimstonI am aware that some trawler owners and industrial consumers are dissatisfied with the present level of coal prices; although I would point out that as a result of consultations between representatives of the trawler owners and colliery owners adjustments were made this year in the prices of trawler bunkers. With regard to the last part of the question, committees of investigation have been in existence for eight years and it will be remembered that the constitution and powers of these committees were strengthened by the Coal Act, 1938; there is no difficulty in obtaining redress for consumers when the committees are satisfied that complaints are substantiated.