§ Mr. H. TERRELLasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state what was, during the past month, the rate of wages paid to colliers in the South Wales steam coalfields, the average amount earned by such colliers per week, and the average number of hours worked by such colliers per diem?
Mr. HARCOURTThe Board of Trade do not obtain monthly returns of the earnings of colliers. The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1908, provided that a workman shall not be below ground for the purpose of his work, and of going to and from his work, for more than eight hours during any consecutive twenty-four hours. By an agreement between the employers and workpeople, the hours of labour authorised by this Act were adopted in the South Wales and Monmouthshire pits from 1st July, 1909.