§ Mr. POTTSasked the Secretary for Mines whether the Government have received copies of Resolutions passed by boards of guardians protesting against excessive coal prices and whether the Government will institute an inquiry into actual prices, and reasons for any excess found being charged to the public, especially having regard. to lower production costs?
§ Colonel LANE FOXThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the latter part, a comprehensive inquiry into production costs and prices would take considerable time to complete: And, at the present moment, in view of the changing and improving conditions, would not be of any practical value.