Mr. DAVIESalso asked the Secretary for Mines the production of coal per person employed in and about the mines for the year 1922 as compared with the year 1913: and whether or not the present rate of production, after making due allowance for the 40,000 additional men now employed in the mines, has yet reached that of 1913 either in the aggregate or per person employed?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOX:The production of coal per person employed in and about the mines was approximately 223 tons in the year 1922 as compared with 259 tons in the year 1913. The present annual rate of production, based upon the returns for January and February, falls below the 1913 rate by 12½ million tons in the aggregate and 22 tons per person employed; if 40,000 fewer men were employed and production fell proportionately, the annual rate would be below that of 1913 by 24½ million tons in the aggregate.