GENERAL CABLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 May 1919, Page 5

GENERAL CABLES.

NATIONALISATION OF COAL MINES. London, April 30. Mr Sydney Webb, giving evidence before the Coal Commission urged the nationalisation of coal mines. The whole system of profit would certainly be trouble if an attempt was made to revert to pre war conditions. It was a cold, incontrovertible fact that usually the cost was less to compensate for accidents than to prevent them. This was one of the faults of the profiteering system and should not be considered an indictment against the coal-owners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ACCIDENTS IN COAL. MINES. Received May 5, 7.30 p.m. London, May 3. Sidney Webb, under cross-examination, admitted he did not possess figures substantiating his assertion that it was Reaper to compensate for accidents. He quoted the Home Office report, showing that an accident in one mine was due to inadequate timber, and contended that this single instance justified the snnen>l assumption that the coalowners refused to provide adequate timbering, owing to the cost being higher than the amount involved in compensating for accidents. He believed there would be fever accidents under nationalisation, [ owing to the elimination of profitmaking motives. Webb also declared that the colliery managers were shockingly destitute of ideas. Nobody connoted witii the coal industry had considered critically his nationalisation pamphlet. He had only been down a mine once.—Aus. N.Z Cable Assoc. A LARGE ESTATE. ' Received May 5, 9.30 p.m. London, Mr.y 3. Baron Michelham's estate has been sworn at two millions. THE MONTENEGRIN KING. Received May 5, f1.30 p.m. London, May 3. In the House of Commons, Mr. Harmsworth said the decision of the Assembly at PodgoTitza to depose King Nicholas and unite Montenegro to Serbia was not recognised by Britain.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SINN FEIN DELEGATION. Received May G, 1.10 a.m. London, May 5. The Irish-American delegation, which has arrived in Dublin, report that Mr. Lloyd George has agreed to facilitate the journey of a Sinn Feinn delegation to Paris. REDUCTION OF PRICES OF MEAT. Received May C, 1 a.m. London, May 5. The British Food Controller has reduced the retail prices of imported meat by twopence per pound.