Orders of the Day — Coal Mines Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 1 July 1926.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mr William Bridgeman Mr William Bridgeman , Oswestry

They spoke as if it would be quite easy to continue the industry without any change with regard to hours or wages. They did not realise that we are confronted with a situation which is described by the Royal Commission itself as "one of disaster hanging over the mining industry." [Interruption.] Thos, are the words which I have taken from the Royal Commission's Report. I know that we all take leave to agree with some parts of that Report and to differ from others, but nobody who understands the question at all can really deny the truth of that observation. If over 70 per cent. of the coal of this country is at this moment being got at a loss, that is a serious situation which cannot be remedied without very drastic measures. [Interruption.] The Debate took the line, first of all, of abuse of the Prime Minister. [Interruption.] Anybody who knows what the Prime Minister has done from the very beginning of this business knows that his patience has been inexhaustible and that, though his temper has been tried, he has never been ruffled. [An HON. MEMBER: "He has done nothing!"] To say that he has not used every ounce of his strength in the cause of peace is to say something which everybody knows is not true. [Interruption.] Yet that is said by those who profess to speak on behalf of those who have not moved one inch—[Interruption].