7. Mr. David Adamsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has considered the desirability of appointing expert technicians to investigate the question of production in collieries, and their most efficient organisation and requirements, as this obligation is exclusively in the hands of the managers and agents, and from which mineworkers are excluded?
§ Mr. GrenfellI have appointed in each coalfield an experienced mining engineer to report on the productive capacity of the mines in his area and, further, every colliery has been asked to form a committee comprised of equal numbers of officials and workmen to discuss matters relative to production. There is also in every coalfield a district production committee comprised of equal representation from both sides of the industry, whose duty it is to guide pit production committees and to advise the Coal Production Council on all matters relating to output.
Mr. AdamsIn spite of that, is my hon. Friend aware that in some collieries when the men make certain suggestions for improvements they are told they are matters for the management?
§ Mr. GrenfellThere may frequently arise honest differences of opinion, but the functions of the pit committees are to examine these differences of opinion solely with a view to increasing output and not to substantiate or deny the technical opinions of anyone concerned.