BRITISH COAL REPORT.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1926, Page 2

BRITISH COAL REPORT.

STATE OWNERSHIP. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, March 10. The report of the Coal Commission has been published. The report is unanimous. The report says: “The change in the fortunes of tho coal mining industry are the result of powerful economic forces. It cannot be attributed to political unrest or restriction of the output among the miners on the on hand and to inefficiency in the management on the other hand. At tho same time, wo cannot agree with the mine owners contention that little can be done to improve tlio organisation ol

the industry, and that the only practicable course is to lengthen the hours of la I iour or to lower the wages. In our view, large changes are necessary in other directions, and large progress is possible. Immediate measures an? indispensable to deal with the immediate position. The problem is twofold. It- has a permanent aspect, and a temporary aspect." Till? report details the defects in the industry. The report rejects the Minors’ Federation proposal to nationalise the mines, as lseing unworkable, and as not offering a clear .social gain ‘‘AAc perceive therein," it says, "grave economic dangers. AVe find no advantages that are not obtainable in other ways. AAV', therefore. contemplate the continuance of the industry under private enterprise, but we make a number of proposals for rcorganisa-

After detailing these proposals, the report concludes by referring 1o the nation’s grave anxiety last summer when confronted with the possibility of an industrial conflict on an unprecedented scale.

The report say-: ‘'Tin- way to prosperity lie' along thro.? chief lines of advance, namely : —(1) A greater application of science to the winning atul the using of coal; (2) Larger units for both production and distribution; and (3) Fuller partnership between the -employer?; and the employees. "In all three aespec-ts', progress must come mainly from within tho industry. The State can help materially, firstly, by making, substantial payments in aid of research, secondly, by removing the obstacles to amalgamation under the existing leases; thirdly, the State as the owner of the minerals, ca,n help by determining the conditions for all new leases; fourthly, by legisation for the estabisbment- of pit committees and for profit sharing and other ways. Future progress depends, primarily, on leadership and the general level of opinion among the mine owners and the miners. AVe are firmly convinced that, if the present difficulties are wisely handled, (he mining industry, with the aid of science, will certainly recover, and even surpass its former prosperity.”

Th? report, under its rorominendatiojns for reorganisation says: “In the past there has been an error in allowing, the ownership of coal to fall into private hands. This error should lie retrieved. The mineral should be acquired by the State—-by purchase whore it lias a market value; and by the declaration of State ownership in ill,? case of unproved or deep level coal, which at present, lias no market value. Safeguards should lie adopted against- excessive compensation claims. A Coal Commission should be. appointed. under the authority of the Secretary for Alines, to acquire and to administer the mineral property." “The amalgamation of many of the present small units of production is ImCJi desirable and practicable. Any general measure for a compulsory amalgamation would be mischievous. Each case should hi? treated individually. The State, as the mineral owner. would lie able to promote desirable amalgamations when granting or requesting leases." The report says; "The closer connection of mining with allied industries. not merely electrical, should ho promoted. The development, of an electrical supply, under new Government proposals should closely he coordinated with tho generation of electricity at the mines. The heat, power, and light requirements of the country should ho under a. constant and comprehensive survey body, formed for tho purpose."

“AVo' propose the establishment of a National Fuel and Power Committee, with advisory powers, to he composed of representatives nominated by the Government from official and other bodies concerned.

The existing provision for research should he largely extended, hy the industry, with the support of the Stale. It is urgently necessary to find new methods of winning and utilising coal. Great national advantage? would ensue if the processes of low temperature carbonisation were perfected, partieulary through the production of smokeless fuel, and the provision of large supplies of mineral oil. The. State should financially support- further experiments. The report, under the heading of “distribution.” says: “The industry .has failed to realise the benefits of co-operation. Large financial advantages are derivable from the formation of co-operative selling agencies, which are specially needed for the export, trade. ‘‘lhe Government should consider the establishment of an official system lor the sampling and analysis of coal with the view of encouraging selling on specification and guarantee in both the liome and the foreign Ilia rkets.

“Local authorities should he ompmv.'.Tod to engage in the retail sale of coal.”

“A\ e propose measures for larger mineral wagons on the railways, and a greater concentration of the ownership of wagons, and a standing Joint Committee of the Afinistrv of Transport- and the Mines Department should he formed to promote these, measures. ”

I lie report states that changes are necessary in the relations between the employers and the employed which arc ol fundamental importance. Amendments are needed in the methods of ascertaining the proceeds of the industry for the fixing; ~f T 1„. standard, dhe lengths of the working day now averages 7! hours underground. ibis should not he altered. “Ihe optional redistribution of hours of work within the present weekly total over a week of live instead of six days, should he considered.

“The multiple shift system should he extended.

“Joint Pit Committees should genrally be established.

“Idle methods for the payment of the men not employed at the face should he revised in order to give them a direct interest in the output.

“The introduction of a family-al-lowance sys-tom is desirable. Pooling schemes should he adopted to prevent the married men with families being prejudiced in obtaining employment. “Schemes for profit .sharing should 1m? generally adopted and made obligatory bv statute.

“The proper provision for the housing of the workers should be a condition for the lease of all new collieries. The general establishment of pithead baths be necessary. This should he undertaken hy the existing Miners’ Welfare Fund, which should be increased by a substantial contribution from the Royalties.

“Annual holidays, with pay, should bo established, when prosperity returns , to the industry.” The coal report states: “A period will bo necessary to bring into effect any of these measures of reorganisation, a period of years being necessary to bring all of them into full operation. We express no opinion as to whether the grant of the State subsidy last July was unavoidable, but we think that its continuance- would be indefensible. The subsidy should cease at rtlio end of its authorised term. It should never be repeated." After rejecting the mine owners’ proposals to increase the hours and to reduce the wages and largely to diminish the railway rates by also lowering the wages of the railwaymen, the report points out that the Aliners’ Federation abstained from suggesting means for meeting the immediate situation. Therefore the duty had devolved on the Commission to formulate proposals. , _ y The report says: The revision of the minimum percentage addition to the standard rates of wages fixed in 1921, during a time of temporary prosperity, is indisponsible to sayo the ituiustrv from an impending disaster. The'wages of the lowest paid men should tie safeguarded by the continuance ot the system of a subsistence allowance. The reductions which ire contemplate would leave the mine owners without adequate profits. Should the miners prefer some extension of hours, with a loss reduction in wages, Parliament will doubtless authorise it. We triist, however, that this will not occur. A considerable variation in the rates of wages in several districts* is bound to continue, but we are strongly of the opinion that the National 'Wage Agreements should continue. AVe recommend that the representatives of the employers and employed should meet. LABOUR CIUTTCTSAL.

LONDON', Alarch 11. The earliest impression of tho Labour attitude on the Coal Commission report were gathered ill tho Parliamentary lobby where the Opposition members emphatically declare that the miners will not hear of tho proposed reduction in wages. Several Labourites recognised there are many good constructive points in the report, notably the suggestion in regard to the nationalisation of the minerals the recommendations for local authorities to engage in coal distribution and the amalgamation of tho smaller mines, hut a. notable weakness pointed out is that the report does not provide any basis for .the discussion of the problem, with which tho industry will be faced on Maruli 25th, when the. .State subsidy will terminate.