Mr. Mitchellasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the high price of foreign pit-props; whether he is aware that the quotations for the current year have gone up between ma per cent. and 150 per cent. over normality; whether he can take any action to reduce this heavy burden on the industry; and whether he can state the reasons which justify such an increase?
§ Captain CrookshankThe answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative. With regard to the remainder of the question, there are no doubt several contributory causes of the 1039W price increases, but the principal one appears to be that demand has outstripped supply. I regret that there is nothing that I can do in the matter.