BRITAIN'S COAL.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 165, 12 July 1919, Page 6

BRITAIN'S COAL.

After having weathered a very serious industrial crisis early in the year, Britain is threatened with another. The trouble haa arisen out of the Government's announcement of a surprisingly large increase in the retail price of coal. The cabled information is so 'brief that it is diflicult to comment on the situation, but it looks as if people in England were almost as much in the dark as we are at this distance. Sir Auckland Geddes does not seem to have troubled to justify in detail the annofmeed rise of C/ a ton, and the necessity for it is being challenged on all sides. It will help our readers to understand the situation if it is explained that the Government adopted the recommendations of the chairman of >he Coal Commission to increase wages by 2/ a day and reduce hours from eight to seven. The Commission estimated that the cost of these concessions for the remainder of the year would be £43,000,000, and that there would be a deficit of £13,000,000. This deficit it was hoped to make up by more regular work in the pits, improved methods of production, and economies in transit and distribution. Xo one seems to have anticipated anything like a rise of 6/ a ton, which, if it is imposed, will add about £60.000,000 to the annual bill of the British consumer. Xot only do the miners' representatives challenge the necessity for the rise, but the mine-owners declare that they will still earn only tltf; 1/2 a ton profit allotted to them T>y the Commission. The objections of the miners' representatives moist be considered seriously, for these men have studied all the phases of the industry, and have a full and intimate knowledge of its figures. The eituntion has two grave aspects. One is the effect of this startling increase in the price of coal on the export industries of Britain. For monthe past developments in the coal industry have been causing concern lest the export trade in coal and steel and other manufactured goods should be hard hit just as Britain is beginning her huge task of reconstruction and general recovery from the effects of war. Even before this latest rise in the price of coal Britain was 'being outbid in foreign markets in coal and steel. The outlook 'has the gravest possibilities, for any great slump in the export trade might cause a. vast amount of unemployment and consequent distress. The second aspect of the situation is the threat of direct action by the unions. Already the electricians have taken action in protest against the rise. It will probably fall to Mr. Lloyd George to-settle matters, but in the meantime the need of the hour seems to be much greater frankneps on ihe part of the Government in regard to the facts and figures of the case.