THE COAL QUESTION

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13938, 17 July 1919, Page 3

THE COAL QUESTION

■..-— ,►_ — Discussion in Commons * LO^DOX, July 14 iiitiie waa a lauge atcenaaiice ai, Uio ii-o-a^e oi Couiaious 00-uay tor fhe\debace oja the coal siuuauow. Sir Auclkiand Geddes said the increase in the price was not based on, political motives; >rt was solely due to the reduced output. One factor was insufficient transport fol-j ljowing the railwaymen'a 8-hour I day. The outstanding fact was that j the country work was not being [ ' done.. Profound, and sudden in- ; i dustrial change® were causing a, widespread disturbance, even in outside trades. Where changes were introduced! a national effort was ne- • . cessary to increase the coal output, which was a vital necessity. The subsidty derived; from export profits was falling daily. If it disappeared, , the price must rise another Is -4d a ton. The country must also face .rises in prices of coke, pig iron, steel, spelter, gas, electric power, railway and ship plates. i Mr. Brace, a Labour member,, described the speech by Sir A. j Geddes as utterly depressing, and constituted' a strong condemnation of the policy of the Government in failing to take the House into* confidence, or to ask for co-operation. He urged the Government to delay the imposition of the t>s increase, and confer with the miners and owners, with a view to increasing the output. The miners would have greater faith in the Government if it carried! the recommendations embodied: in Judge, SadEey's report. The miners believed that nationalisationi was , the 'key to the^ ■ situation!. Mr. Brace said further that the; Government would withhold putting ■ an increase of 6s into operation if the • milnersi would) co-operate with \ the Government in trying to increase < the output. Mr. Bonafr Law said in reply that . if the miners would give an undertaking that there'would be no stop- r page of work for three months, the Government would be , inclined to , defer the increase; Meanwhile the price would not. be increased until . ■next Monday, thus allowing the j conference of miners on Thursday : to consider the matter.