asked the Secretary for Mines the average wage received for the weeks ended 9th December and 16th December, 1922, respectively, by persons over 21 years of age employed in and about coal mines who presented themselves for work each day that the mines were open for work during those weeks?
The returns made to my Department do not distinguish between the earnings of persons of 21 years and over and of those under that age, nor between the earnings of persons who present themselves for work each day that the pit is open and those who do not; but, according to information supplied by the Mining Association of Great Britain, covering about 85 per cent. of the industry, the average weekly earnings of colliery workmen over 21 years of age who presented themselves for work each day that the mines were open for work during the weeks ended the 9th and 16th December, 1922, were £3 0s. 6d. and £3 1s. 5d., respectively.