§ 4. Mr. A. Robertsasked the Paymaster-General if he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board that the mining industry should revert to the hours worked per shift before the 1926 lock out.
§ Mr. MaudlingNo, Sir.
§ Mr. RobertsDoes not the Paymaster-General agree that this is about the only industry which is working the hours which it worked in 1919, and that from 1926, when additional time was put on, the industry has been working this longer shift? Does he not believe that now, after thirty years, some readjustment should be made?
§ Mr. MaudlingThis is a matter which can be argued, but I often have to say that we will not interfere with the discretion of the National Coal Board in certain matters, and I should have thought that, in the negotiation of wages and hours of work, above all, it would be wrong for the Government to issue directions to the Board. This is, I am sure, a matter between the Board and the National Union of Mineworkers.