THE COAL QUESTION IN ENGLAND

Dunstan Times, Issue 580, 30 May 1873, Page 3

THE COAL QUESTION IN ENGLAND

(FROM TlfE “GRAPHIC.”) The price of coal, I suppose, is the subject uppermost iu the minds of Londoners, and it is uppermost iu the minds of us in country. But do you know, as we do, what is the cause of the rise ’ I think not. It has been stated in more than one letter and leader in the leading Loudon paper, that that the high price of coal was due to the strike—and a veiy serious strike it is—in South Wales. Would you “ be surprised to learn” that not a single pound of South Wa'es Coal comes into London ’ It is all what is called engine coal, and is either used in the district for making iron or for coaling sh ps, or is exported. It is said again that strikes generally, and the rise in workmen's wages generally, happening simultaneously with a decrease iu the hours of the workmen’s labor, is the cause of the increase in the price of coal. This also is untrue. A clergyman, living close to Clay Cross, wrote the other day to say that, while men’s wages had only increased at the rate of a shilling a ton, coals had risen eight shillings a ton at the pit’s mouth. The fact is, there is a “ coal ring.” The coal-masters—a very select and powerful body, have combined together to get the greatest profit they can out of the mineral they raise from the earth. It is difficult to explain how they do this. The laws of supply and demand would seem to rule the coal as well as all other trades. They do not do so, iu , fact. The gentlemen, who are crying out against combination among workmen, have entered into a very potent combination among themselves. They have agreed to tax both the public and the workmen at the same time, by lessening their “ output” of coal. They tax the woikman because they do rot allow him his proper share of work. They tax the public becnise they do not produce a sufficient quantity of coal to meet its wants. This is shown by the fight which the workmen are making to share in the illicit profits of their masters Many strikes have been threatened—though none have been carried out—for a rise of wages in consequence of the increase in the price of coal, but iu no case is the workmen’s demand more than onc-tenthof the demand made by the master up in the .country at large. In the advertising columns of a London paper is a neat expose of the whole question. The cheapest coal quoted iu other advertisements was a week or so ago 395. per ton, while a “ cheap coal association" advertised that it would supply shareholders at cost price. This is borne out in a letter from a clergyman at Chesterfield, who says ho can buy a ton of coal for a pound, and who adds that the cost of transit is Ba., whereas coal as sold in Loudon fs about 50s. There is perhaps in this, as in some other states of things, a material advantage. It avail teach ns in the first place to economise our coal supplies, and iu the second place to look out for substitutes. A correspondent wiitesthat “with the present high price { of coal, and decreasing supply, it is sur- | prising that such an immense quantity of the raw material should have been to a I great extent overlooked in Lancashire and j elsewhere, where it could he made available for supplementing an article of general consumption, for domestic as well as smelting purposes.” The manufacture of peat into charcoal has been effected by an efficient process, and only requires combination to make it a profitable undertaking. With coal at 30.5. per ton, it is worth the attention of capitalists to make an article which would be highly profitable and requires no skilled labor. One lauded proprietor is favorable to the scheme, and has offered a peat bog.” I may add that Ireland, that afflicted country, can, if it pleases, as is shown by a recent commission, provide peat charcoal enough to last us for years. Borides Vvc can economise coal. But for an Englishman’s love of the sight of a fire, he could warm his room at infinitely less cost than he does now ; and even giving way to his prejudices in this respect, he could perform most of his culinary operations with gas or steam at one tenth the cost he now performs them. The coalmasters arc not alone to blame in the matter. Says a Bradford journal: “ It was stated in our paper yesterday, upon reliable authority, that the coalmasters had held a large mooting at the Queen’s Hotel, ou Tuesday, and resolved not to advance the price of coal. On Thursday morning the coal merchants in B adford received circulars to the effect t lat an advance of upon an average more than 4s. per ton would he made. We are asked to reconcile the two statements. That we cannot do. But we can assure the consumers of coal that the merchants have received the intimation of advance, and therefore the consumers will have to pay accordingly, the resolutions of the coalmasters on Tuesday notwithstanding. To complete my coal story. I cannot help giving a curious and characteristic letter recently received from a Highlander, and published by a Glasgow paper which vouches for its authenticity. It is as follows: “Sur, I was understand that you a cole pit. I was want to know what was your monish for to snpplie cole to be deliver to turberl at the Quay most nearust the sity of turbert lock fine side. 1 was used to got my coal from a agint at greenoke but he was charge me a great dale much more than 1 was understan he was pae for them and though i am always used to was a onest man i was not have many much monish to spare, and was wish to bie as chape prise as I could got. I wns tnke 2 cargos as wul-full a smak about 20 tons twice as more every week to be and on thnrsdae—and the monish would be sented to you wunst every fridae by the agint of the bank a very dacent man and his wife too and Was aul ways, pai his way. and never was spoke an ill about any man as I was knew before, if you will rite your prise to ms the smallest you cam took, i will rite you a answer when the day after will como,

I was like to dale with u highlaiulsman and always did used to like very moie aul the Campbell, my wiles cuisins fathers unkle was a Campbell—a very ceevil lad as was a fishing smak and wos made a dale of monish and I was leve a legaeie to my wife who will be glad to see you with myselfe and gave you a bed if you was kum and spoke the prise yon wood tuke for the coles and save yon the trubel of wrightiug a letter to was tell the price of the coles, if U canot came urese'f rite to , , . 1 was got my sou Lachie was a good riter to rite the name of your shop iu glasco. he would like a good place if you could get him.”