§ Brigadier-General SURTEESasked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction prevailing in many coalfields within the settlement of last July; and if he proposes to take any measures to avert the possibility of strikes and to bring about happier relations between employers and employés?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am aware that there is very natural dissatisfaction with the progressive reductions in wages that have recently taken place in many coalfields. But these would have been inevitable under any system of regulating wages in accordance with the prosperity of the industry. They are not the result of any defect in the Agreement of last July. As regards the last part of the question, I am always most ready to render any assistance in my power towards the maintenance of good relations in the industry, but I think that this can generally be best achieved by the parties themselves without intervention by my Department except at the request of those concerned.