MINING INDUSTRY BILL.

An Amendment proposed, in page 1, line 9, to leave out the word "Where"-(Mr. Walsh).-Question put, "That the word 'Where' stand part of the Clause."-The Committee divided:

Ayes, 31.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 1, line 10, to leave out all the words from the word "the" to the end of the Clause, in order to insert the words "Board of Trade are of opinion that the amalgamation, either whole or

partial, of two or more undertakings consisting of or comprising coal mines is essential, the Board shall prepare a scheme (hereinafter referred to as an 'amalgamation scheme') framed according to suitability of area and other circumstances "-(Mr. Walsh),-instead thereof.-Question put, "That the words proposed to be left out, down to the word 'treating' in line 20, stand part of the Clause.-The Committee divided:

Ayes, 31.

Lieut.-Commander Astbury
Commander Bellairs
Mr. Bennett

Mr. Betterton

Brigadier-General Brooke
Colonel Clifton Brown
Sir William Bull
Mr. Campbell

Mr. Ellis

Sir Charles Forestier

Walker

Mr. Harney
Mr. Harrison

Mr. Hopkinson

Mr. Robert Hudson

Mr. Kidd

Colonel Lane-Fox

Mr. William Adamson
Lord Henry Cavendish-
Bentinck

Mr. Arthur Greenwood
Mr. Hartshorn
Mr. John

Mr. Lougher
Captain Macmillan
Sir Alfred Mond
Sir Beddoe Rees
Major Ropner
Sir Leslie Scott
Mr. Solicitor-General
Captain Styles

Mr. Luke Thompson
Major the Marquess of
Titchfield

Sir Francis Watson
Major Sir Granville Wheler
Mr. Murrough Wilson
Secretary Sir L.

Worthington-Evans
Mr. Wragg

Noes, 10.

Mr. Lee

Mr. Lawson
Mr. Lunn

Mr. Walsh

Mr. David Williams

Another Amendment proposed, in page 1, line 20, to leave out the words "treating, or disposing"-(Mr. Austin Hopkinson).-Question proposed, "That the words treating, or disposing' stand part of the Clause."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 2, line 1, after the word "undertakings," to insert the words which are contiguous with the undertaking or undertakings of the principal company or constituent companies and ". (Mr. Austin Hopkinson).-Question proposed, "That those

words be there inserted."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Another Amendment proposed, in page 2, line 4, to leave out the words "wholly or partially "-(Mr. Austin Hopkinson).-Question proposed, "That the words wholly or partially' stand part of the Clause."

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

6

Another Amendment proposed, in page 2, line 9, at the end, to insert the words:

-

(3) (a) In default of initiative by any owner of such
an undertaking the Board of Trade shall at
any time after this Act has been in operation
for twelve months have power itself to prepare
and refer to the Railway and Canal Commission
a scheme for the amalgamation of any two or
more such undertakings for any one or more
of the above-mentioned purposes, and such
scheme may be either total or partial;

(b) Upon such scheme being referred to it, the
Railway and Canal Commission shall give such
directions for notification by the Board of Trade
to all owners of such undertakings likely to
be affected thereby, and such opportunity for
objection as it thinks expedient and fair, and
if any one or more of the said owners is
willing to enter into the said scheme the
provisions of section seven of this Act shall
thereupon become applicable: Provided that
(i) the Commission shall endeavour to bring
together the owners so notified in order
if possible to secure their voluntary assent
to the said scheme as proposed by the
Board of Trade, or subject to such modifi-
cations as may be agreed or as may be
directed by the Commission;

(ii) if the said owners all refuse or fail
voluntarily to enter into the said scheme

the Commission may, if they think fit, direct the Board of Trade to publish the same together with the reasons of the Commission for thinking that the same is in the national interest, and the Board of Trade shall thereupon publish the same by laying the said scheme and reasons before Parliament or in such other manner as the Commission may direct;

(iii) if, after a period of not less than six months from the date of such publication. no one of the said owners intimates that he is willing to be treated as an owner applying for an absorption order within the meaning of this section, it shall, for a further period of six months, be open to the Commission to receive through the Board of Trade and to consider an application from any other person to be treated as if he were an absorbing company within the meaning of this section, but the Commission shall not grant an order in favour of any such other person until they have given the owners of the undertakings in question such further opportunity of themselves applying for an order as to the Commission may seem fit:

And provided also that an order under paragraph (iii) hereof shall not become operative until a resolution has been passed by both Houses of Parliament confirming the same "--(Captain Macmillan).

Question put, "That those words be there inserted." -The Committee divided:

Ayes, 15.

Mr. William Adamson
Lieut.-Commander Astbury

Lord Henry Cavendish

Bentinck

Mr. Arthur Greenwood
Mr. Harney

Mr. Hartshorn

Mr. Robert Hudson

Mr. John
Mr. Lee
Mr. Lunn
Captain Macmillan
Sir Alfred Mond
Sir Leslie Scott
Mr. Walsh

Mr. David Williams

An Amendment made, in page 2, line 20, after the first word "amalgamation," by inserting the words "of undertakings "--(Mr. Solicitor-General).

Another Amendment proposed, in page 2, line 30, at the end, to insert the words "except that partial absorption shall not include the separation of treating or disposing of coal from the working thereof "—(Mr. Solicitor-General.) -Question put, "That those words be there inserted." -The Committee divided: