Mr. David Adamsasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has a statement to make as to the sharing of orders for coal throughout all collieries; when this arrangement will begin to operate; and also the estimated average short time weekly per colliery likely to ensue?
§ Mr. GrenfellI am in constant communication with representatives of the mining industry in regard to the production of the pits, and the discussions cover also questions of sharing orders. I would, however, point out that difficulties of transport and the widely varying qualities of coal limit the extent to which we can carry out the policy of sharing orders within each district. At the present time I am anxious to secure every ton of coal suitable for household and industrial purposes that can be transported to the consuming areas of the country. I would prefer to make no estimate of the average short time working resulting from recent developments.