§ 19. Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary for Mines whether he will give the figures of the average absenteeism at collieries for the past six months and for the corresponding period before the war?
§ The Secretary for Mines (Mr. David Grenfell)It would not be in the public interest to publish the figures.
§ Sir A. KnoxIs it not true that voluntary absenteeism has largely increased and 336 that if it were done away with, it would mean that an extra 13,000,000 tons of coal could be produced every year?
§ Mr. GrenfellI have previously answered the hon. and gallant Gentleman on that point. I do not believe that complete elimination of voluntary absenteeism would result in the figures which the hon. and gallant Gentleman has quoted from another source.
§ Sir A. KnoxWould it not largely increase the output? Is it not madness to call men back from the Colours to the mines while voluntary absenteeism continues?
§ Mr. GrenfellThe hon. and gallant Gentleman must remember that what he describes as voluntary absenteeism would not be accepted as the standard in the industry itself.
§ Mr. T. SmithIs it not a fact that the man who made the statement that 13,000,000 tons more coal would be produced ought to have known better?