COAL CONTROL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3364, 17 December 1919, Page 6

COAL CONTROL.

BRITISH BILL. I CURIOUS SITUATION DEVELOPS. [ DURTNG DEBATE, A LONDON, Dec. 13. Speaking in the House of Commons on a motion ‘for the second reading of the Coal Industry Emergency Bill, ‘Sir Auckland Geddes admitted -thaut it was difficult t-o find enthusiastic supporters, but the crisis earlier in the year, and the present crisis were la. justification fC_'l' the Bill, which automatically followed the Government acceptance of the Sankey report. It also limited the profits to 14d per ton on certain lines. The industry was now in such a condition that something must be done, but if control was suddenlydropped chaos would ensue. The,Bill was only" in--tended as an emergency measure to end in March. The. Government did not regard the limitation of profits as sound in principle, ‘and would absolutely oppose such .a. method «of dealing with an industry in normal times. Mr Leslie Scott moved the rejection of the Bill. '

A curious situation developed during the debate. Mr Adamson announqm ed that the Labourites "refused -to support the measure, the miners’ executivc having "today decided that the Bill was not acceptable. _— Mr V. H‘ar'tshorn said the miners did not object to tlge limitation -of profits,but they did object. to the limitation of bills and currency. Mr Hartshorn Warned the Government that there would be La. terrific eruption in the‘ mining industry when the Bill expired in March.

Members pointéfd out than‘ Labour’s z'c_fusal_ Qf_ jche Bill coln§letely altcrod_ the position. ' Mr Bonar Law announced that the withdrawal of the Bill, involving -the continuance of the existing system of control, would result in gre'3..t financial diffictllties, owing £0 the recent reduction of ten shillings in the price of household coal. He agreed vto an adjournment, 1“.-opingla solution would be found.