The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1919. THE COAL INDUSTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 1919. THE COAL INDUSTRY.

Every resident in the Dominion is* directly interested in the question or coal supply, and it is satisfactory to note that the recent report of the Board of Trade on this important matter is replete with information bearing on the coal resources available in the Dominion, the rate of exports and im- ; ports, a general survey of the infdustry in New Zealand, and of and distribution, tofgether with statistics and tables every branch of the in■dustry, including the housing of the miners and cost of riving, also prices and profits. Necessarily the report is, lengthy, but the subject matter is peculiarly interest4se» while Uie recommendations are cw,foli<- worthy pi serious tOjpsicieration, especially in view ■F the acute shortage of coal availf&Ble for consumption ia the* depth of winter. With the hoasehold conssaaer the Board does not I show much sympathy, but piamly tells them they mast use wood and coke, though what is to be done when these materials are unobtainable is not stated, so it may be presumed that p«*pjte must do the bes* they can, and! the law off. the- surayal of thft 'finest -will

are £0 be the first consideration, but the report states that unless certain improvements are made, particularly in the organisation of the coal industry, the relative price of coal •will continue to rise, probably rapidly. Like every other commodity, coal has doubled in price, and the prospect of having to pay still more is not very comforting. It ,is, however, not so much a question of price as of supply,and it is here that the miners have the whip hand by restricting, or even , stopping altogether, the output. It is quite eonceivable'that the Board had an unenviable task in framing recommendations that would meet the end in view. The main conelusions arrived at appear to be organisation, some form of nationalisation, the immediate constitution of a Dominion Coal Board, giving the miners a voice in the determination of the business policy of the industry and its management, besides providing them with houses and recreation places. A system of distribution and regulation of prices in the interest of consumers are also considered desirable. Neither organisation nor nationalisation can be relied on to ensure the output from the mines being sufficient to meet the full requirements of the people of the Dominion, and that is the crux of the whole matter. Although the board considers that some form of nationalisation is urgently needed, it expresses an opinion against State purchase and direct management of the mines, but urges that the most pressing need is to "combine the advantages of centralised policy and management with those that may reasonably be expected from representation of labor and of consumers (through the State) on a controlling body," and that is why a Dominion coal board is recommended, to consist of two representatives of the mine owners, two of the miners, the fifth to represent the Crown. The question however, arises whether it is 1 not expedient that the State should resume possession of all coal measures, and work them on a co-oper-ative basis, under the under conditions that will ensure economy of working, sufficiency of output, and the removal of causes of labor unrest. Apparently the board considers that consolidating several mines under a single central control and management would tend to effect many economies in cost of production and distribution. Theoretically it should, but it is doubtful whether in practice the desired result would materialise. If the price of coal is to be cheapened, then the profit-mp.king element must ■be as far as possible reduced to a minimum. It is a difficult problem to solve. The recommendation that should meet with universal approval is that which proposes to devote a levy of threepence per ton on all coal raised in the Dominion and on all imported coal for providing interest and sinking fund charges for loans to build houses and provide suitable means of recreation for miners. There are several excellent suggestions for. bettering the conditions of the workers, providing facilities for transport, dealing with accidents, sickness, etc. If the difficulties concerning production can be overcome, those relating to distribution are much easier of settlement by the adoption of sane business methods whereby the consumer can be supplied direct to his nearest railway station, or port, leaving the local Labor organisation to arrange for the needs of the very small consumers. The regulation of prices will entirely depend on the method decided upon as to production. There are many points mentioned in the report that merit notice. The board certainly deserves commendation for the great pains taken by the members, in gathering information and presenting it in a shape that is easily digested, while it is to be hoped that the report will lead to the industry being placed on a basis that will be acceptable to the producers and consumers.

RESTRICTED TRAIN SERVICES. Tie annouiiccmei.i that the Railway Department proposes to curtail the train services owing to the shortage of coal will bring home to the people of the Dominion in an acute form the full meaning of the conditions under which the country is now suffering. Householders already feel the effect of the shortage of coal, but when the travelling public experiences the turn o)[ the screw it will be felt that New Zealand is by no means a pleasant place of abode. The irony of the situation is that there is plenty of coal, sufficient men to win it from the coalfields, and enough ships for distribution purposes, yet there is a coal famine that threatens to inflict grievous hardships on the people, paralyse industrial activities, and Muse loss to the community. Any interference with transport facilities is keenly felt, but it would seem that the government is powerless to avert what ij nothing less than a national disaster. ■ A peculiar phase of the crißis is that tie Government possesses a coal mine, aiid yet cannot get sufficient coal for running its trains. Surely this affords a iuncntable exhibition of inability to catrT on the business of the Conakry and of a passivity that passes •fcfi cempreflettsiou. When the war broke ■erao BEEtaln. was Warned for her trapre-

lesson, in the face of the industrial unrest, the Government of New Zealand, and especially the Railway Department,, has been caught napping—and the public, as usual, have to suffer. Possibly the department in question—which is always alarmist—has formulated its drastic order with a view to arousing popular indignation, but they must be very simple Simons if they think the miners will be influenced by such tactics. What is required is action that will be effective, organisation that will answer requirements, and initiative that will prevent such a crisis as that with which the country is now faced; yet no effective means are taken; the position k accepted with equanimity, and more burdens are laid on the people. Truly, we are long-suffering.