§ Captain BAGLEYasked the Minister of Labour the average weekly earnings per person employed in the coal-mining industry for the latest four weeks for which particulars are available, and for the corresponding four weeks in 1914, giving also the percentage rise, and the percentage rise in the cost of living?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI have been asked to reply. I regret that I have not any later official figures than those for the quarter ending 30th September, 1921. I hope to have those for the two succeeding quarters shortly. According to figures supplied to me by the courtesy of the Mining Association, the average weekly earnings of all persons employed in the coal mining industry in April last (making allowance for the Easter holidays) was approximately 51s. According to information supplied to the Coal Industry Commission of 1919, the corresponding figure for June, 1914, was 30s. 6d. This shows an increase of 67 per cent. The rise in the cost of living over the same period is 81 per cent.