COAL REVOLUTION

Hokitika Guardian, 4 August 1931, Page 3

COAL REVOLUTION

VAST BRITISH SCHt.JE. 1 United Press Association -By ICleotrio Telegraph—Copyrght. I LONDON, August J. A vast scheme for dividing Britain into six units, in each of which only one co liery will be operated, is outlined by the Coal Mines’ Reorganisation Commission.

The .scheme is one that involves a reduction of the one thousand existing individual colliery organisations to six amalgamations; a Ism. the cosing ot hundreds of uneconomic mines, a'

the conversion of whole coal districts that are now derelict areas, and a the dismissal of one hundred thousand miners.

The report says that the ductile easy supremacy df Britain are gone. Her supply of coal exceeds her demand. The vital needs of the industry is that the costs should lie reduei d by the eoneentration of I** productive effort. More pits ought, to work at their full capacity. A central sales organisation and a quota system are both rejected as s

isfaetory alternatives to amalagania tion.

The Commission is convinced that the consolidation of the mines is all important. Each group would be controlled by a Central Directorate, who would decide where coal could be I est produced, would regulate finance, and control wagons and !'<>sr>;>.-<-ji.

The proposed groupa are: Scot's-North-east England; East Midlands Centra'] Midlands: Scu+h Wales; and a few small fields, which, do not 1 theniselv.- s readily to geographical di v is ion.