§ Sir W. RUTHERFORDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether dissatisfaction is now being caused in Liverpool owing to the unequal and inequitable distribution of coal for domestic purposes; whether his attention has been called to the fact that customers of some middlemen can obtain, and are obtaining, supplies very much in excess of what other customers with similar requirements can obtain through other middlemen; and 250W whether steps will be taken to remedy what is complained of?
§ Sir R. HORNEI am not aware of unequal distribution in Liverpool. It is, of course, possible that there are occasions when one merchant's supplies on a given day enable him to give better deliveries than his competitor; this, however, reverses itself in the following days. So much depends on rail transit and sources of supplies. Assistance is being given in necessitous cases to the extent of 500 tons weekly.