Sir H. SAMUELasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has any information to show that the decline in the average pit-head proceeds per ton of coal disposable commercially in the years ended 30th September, 1928, and 1929, compared with 1925, as given by the Mines Department, is due, to any appreciable extent, to an increase in the proportion sold of coal of inferior qualities; and, if so, whether he can indicate the extent, of that change?
§ Mr. TURNERJudged by the figures of coal sold for export, there is a tendency for the percentage of large coal to fall and for the percentage of small and sized coals to increase somewhat. But the information available is not sufficient to enable the Department to measure the effect of this on the average price of all coal disposed of commercially by the pits.