The Timaru Herald MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1926. BRIDGING THE GAP.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 5 April 1926, Page 8

The Timaru Herald MONDAY, APRIL 5, 1926. BRIDGING THE GAP.

Although the British coal industry has been subsidised by the payment of a State grant of A18,1)00,000 drawn, from the Imperial Exchequer, black clouds hang ominously over Britain’s industrial horizon. Mine owners and miners have more or less critically examined the report_of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the economic condition of the coal industry, but no bridge lias been designed to reconcile the divergent opinions of owners and workers. The coal subsidy has plunged the Chancellor' of the Exchequer- into a, Budget deficit, but additional taxation and the more effective use of the economy axe will doubtless provide the funds to reimburse the Treasury Nevertheless the Chancellor has made it perfectly plain that “what is important is to see that a deficit does not, occur in the current year” ; and, it remained for the Home Secretory to make' thei definite pronouncement that “the continuance of the coal subsidy is quite out of the question.” The Imperial Government, however, has indicated that it is prepared to accept the report of the Coal • Commission if the mine owners and the miners can find common ground of agreement. In view of the many unofficial efforts being 1 made to bring about au atmosphere for, peace in the coal situation the words of Mr Herbert Smith, president of the Miners' Federation, in an interview at Geneva with the “Manchester Guardian” Labour correspondent are interesting. Mr Smith said:

I think it is generally agreed, that wages are lower than they ought to be to provide the proper standard of life for the mine-worker. The sooner mine-owners realise that although the colliery manager is the captain of the ship the mine-workers must be the .crew, and that there must be proper conditions for crew as for captain, the better it will be for the industry. I am hoping that the Mines Commission which has I*l plenty of evidence to prove the important part which the worker plays in the industry, will recommend that the miner ought to have a voice in the conduct of the industry. If that i* done I can assure the country that the miner will bo prepared to play his part worthily and well.

In support’of Mr Smith’s claim that the miners fear the effect of the mine-owners’ proposals, the Minors’ Federation issued an interesting , comparative table showing the daily earnings made possible by the subsidy, the average earnings in 1914, and the estimated earnings under the owners’ proposals, based on, the assumption that the subsidy is not renewed :

If as Mr Smith insists, . the Miners’ Federation takes the •stand tha-t the “present, wages are lower - than they ought to ho,” some ideal can he gained if the problem facing - Britain to solve a vital and pressing industrial problem if the Imperial Governmont declines to , renew the coal subsidy after May 1. The. cable messages this morning announce that the chairman of the Mining Association _ (representing the owners) has informed the: Executive of the Miner's’ Federation that tho “owners, for the sako of peace arid a settlement are prepared to negotiate an agreement on national lines, but the industry must stand on its own foundation on an economic basis and could not bei continued by means of Government subsidy.” The mine-owners urge an extension of working hours, increased output, and district settlement of minimum percentage. The owners oppose compulsory- amalgamation, .uiy clrango in regard to by-products, and all forms of nationalisation. The temperate and sensible pronouncements of moderate leaders of both sides should ‘help in bridging - the gap between the present chaos in tho coal industry and any comprehensive scheme of reorganisation. Both masters and men should study the rational proposals embodied in the Coal Commission’s report, with unprejudiced minds. Though, the overtures made by Lord Londonderry—suggesting no reduction of wages, no lengthening ut hours but increased output—did not represent' the official point of view of tho owners, they certainly helped to reduce the temperature of public discussion. The miners, on the other hand, see. no reason why a new national _ agreement strictly limited in time should not be executed, the main effect cf which would he to- safeguard the present district and subsistence rales, the _ adjustment of base rates for piece workers being - left for discussion as they now' are. In cases of extreme difficulty it might bo_ necessary to reduce, rates, subject to the maintenance of the minimum. But the miners themselves would not agree to this course without such guaraaloos of efficiency and co-operation as might, be provided by the establishment of joint pit committees to act as advisory and consultative bodies. It. ought indoubledly to be an indispensable condition in a transition period agreement that a complete overhaul of pit 'organisation and equipment through !lie agency of these joint committees should precede any cutting of rates.

Such an undertaking, made effective by the joint committees, woukEdo a great deal to; increase output, and reduce costs, and would foster that sense, of conscious goodwill and mutual responsibility which at present is. seriously lacking in the mines generally. It is obvious, at the same time, that, the Slate subsidy must he drastically modified. There need he no dogmatic adherence: to any set of suggestions. All proposals are, no doubt, capable of wide, readjustment. But the cool and reasoned discussion following the publication of the reports of the Coal Commission show conclusively that there isi no justification for proclaiming- a deadlock in practical ideas, and that a wide field ,-f accommodation, which involves neither longer workiug hours, nc lower wages, is open to two willing- parties. As Mr Baldwin Tint it in. a. speech at Sunderland late in January, “it is being l more and more realised in the country at large, at homo rml abroad, that the Imperial Government, representing sober, well-balanced public opinion, means to get, .in with its task, and that the Cabinet is studying the- needs < f the nation without regard to party as a whole; resolutely determined they will not howdown to vested interests liie-li <r low.”

Present Ovners’ 1914 District. earnings. proposals • aysScotland ■ . 10 41 6 4J G N’rth’mb’rl’nd 9 24 6 4 6 21 Durham .... 9 114 G 5 6 21 S. Wales ... 10 9 7 0 G 9 Eastern , Division 10 11 7 5 6 Lancs., Cheshire - and N. Staffs 9 Hi 5 11 6 : 0* N. Wales . . 9 1 5 G ■6 10 Cumberland . 10 8 5 8 G 2.1 E. of Doan . 8 Hi 5 0 5 4 Somerset ... 85 G 1 4. 9J