BRITAIN'S COAL OUTPUT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 304, 17 September 1920, Page 7

BRITAIN'S COAL OUTPUT

WHAT A GOVERNMENT RETURN SHOWS

COST OF PRODUCTION AND NET

PROFITS

MINERS' AVERAGE EARNINGS

FEDERATION CHALLENGES FIGURES

(By Tclograph-PrcsE Association-Oopyriitlit (Rec. September 16, 5.5 p.m.)

London, September 15. Apropos of tho question of the distribution cf the coal output, a Wtito Paper shows that during the quarter ended Juno SO, !iS million lons were produced, and approximately 9| million ton? were exported. The cost of production totalled 8S millions sterling, of which GC millions woro paid in wages. The quantity raised per person was '19:33 tons. The return allows that the gross profits from coal mining for the Juno quarter wore eight millions sterling, but this sum is subject to charges for interest and depreciation, owners' profits, and capital adjustments, making the not • profits for the quarter .£750,000, or three millions a year. It is pointed out that llr. Smillie's case for the_ reduction of Ms. 2d. per ton in tho selling prico for domestic use is based on the assumption that the industry will give a year's surplus of sixty-six millions sterling, consequently it is claimed that tho return completely explodes tho millers' claim. The figures show, moreover, that the average earnings of tho coal workers of all grades were .£228 per annum, against .£B2 before the war. Compared with the previous quarter, the output of the mines decreased approximately four million tons, while the export decreased nearly million tons. The Miners' Fedeiation challenges the Government's figures, and states that the costs of production include an abnormal amount spent by'tho mine-owners on development. It contends that this expenditure will continue to bo high as long as the owners believe that decontrol is approaching, because their profits are guaranteed regardless of preparatory capital expenditure, which is always counted as items of legitimate ccst under tho Conl Mines Act. The federation attributes the reduction of the output during the three months ended June 30 to the usual holidays and contends that its calculalions of animal output are not affected. It attributes the reduction of exports, on which the most profit was made, to the diversion of export coal to inland use in order to build up an accumulation at liome in view of tho possibility of a strike. The federation-as-serts that with a return to normal conditions in expenditure on development and expenses there will be a sufficient surplus wholly to meet the miners' present demands—Router. OUTLOOKBRIGHTER DEMAND FOR REDUCTION IN PRICE MAY BE DROPPED. (Rec. September 16, 8.20 p.m.) London, September 15.' The coal outlook is brighter. The miners will probably drop the demand for a reduction in price if tho Government guarantees to continue control of the industry over an extended period. The jriners' Executive has arranged to mee-t Sir Robert Homo (President of the Board of Trade) on Thursday, also to summon a full conference of delegates of tho miners' lodges—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. WAGE DEMAND MUST. GO TO ARBITRATION. (Rec. September 10, 8.45 p.m.)' London, September IC. The "Daily Chronicle" says that at Thursday's meeting • with Sir :Robert Homo, tie miners may consent to waivo the claim regarding a 14s. 3d. reduction if iv pledge is given that coal will not bo decontrolled during tho present Parliament, and a higher wage increase given than that already asked, but it must be remembered that Sir Robert Homo lias already announced that the wage demand must y;o to arbitration, as there is not enough money in the industry to pay an increase to the miners. The chairman of the ' Coal Owners' Association announces that the coal-owners do not want decontrol, which would be contrary to the publio interest.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn, STRIKE OF COTTON OPERATIVES PROTEST AGAINST SIGNING OF AGREEMENT. (Rec. September 10, 8.20 p.m.) London, September 15. Five thousand cotton operatives in Lancashire have struck as a protest against •their union signing an agrecmout with tho master spinners without submitting tho terms to a ballot among tho opera-tives,—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.