Sir Robert Horne in reply welcomed Mr. Smillie's decision to
abandon the claim to fix coal prices, but he declined to delegate the duty to a special committee, any more than to the Miners' Federation. The Government had no intention of ceasing to control coal prices so long as the export price remained so much higher than the domestic price. The claim for more wages must first be justified. Sir Robert Home offered to consult the coal-owners and find out how they would propose to change the various recent increases in miners' wages from time-rates into piece-rates. The miners, he said, had already received far more, since the Coal Commission reported, titan was needed to cover the increased cost of living. If a larger out- put were assured higher wages could be paid. Mr. Smiths interposed to say that the Miners' Federation would not guaran- tee a larger output in return for the additional two shillings a day, which they demanded immediately as a matter of right.
