COAL IN BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 201, 25 August 1919, Page 4

COAL IN BRITAIN.

The British Government's decision about the reports of the Coal Commission is a middle course. It rejects nationalisation of mines, for which the miners have been .pressing, and accepts nationalisation of mineral righti? in coal, which will form part of a great scheme fo& the unification and reorganisation ot* the industry. Mr. Lloyd George gave one reason for the rejection of complete nationalisation, but one may conjecture that it wan not the weightiest. It is probable that what counted most with Cabinet wan the huge gamble involved in nationaliisation, and particularly the cost of pu-r----chase. It would seem that, other arguments apart, at -this critical stage in the nation's industrial and political development, when the national debt is so aior-

mous, and so many other problems press for solution, the State would not be justified in assuming the. financial and business responsibilities for this immense basic industry. But what the Govern-

ment intends to d-o is very important. It means to take over royalties, which

amount to six millions a yeai. it pro po.-cs to reorganise the industry by

dividing tiic country -into areas, unifying the coal industry in each area, and giving the workers a share in the control of these district?. If the Government adopt* in detail the. recommendations of Sir Artiiur Duck-ham, whose report was on these, lines, there will in each area be a District Coal Board, -representing the amalgamated interests of the companies The shares of tha concern will be entitled to a minimum dividend of 4 per

. cent., guaranteed by the Suite; o.ofits I over tltis may be used to form such reserve funds as may be approved by ihe Government, to pay further dividends, aud to reduce the price of coal. Tho Government looks to some such scheme to reduce the waste and inefficiency -ir management irhich unquestionably have developed under unrestricted private con-1 trol. Sir Arthur Duckham proposes to] place at the head of the whole industry! a Minister of Mines, who would control all mineral rights, make a complete geological survey of the country, initiate and carry nut research for the improvement of working methods and conditions, and generally supply that supervision in the national interests which has hitherto been lacking. The miners' leaders arc angry at the | decision and threaten to hold aloof from j the scheme and do their utmost to j overthrow the Government. They and the ; miners have counted on the Government adopting nationalisation*, and nothing less will satisfy them. The Miners' Federation has prepared a Bill with this object, and it is significant that it is expressly stated in this Bill that when the State takes over the mines, there shall be no payment for royalties. However much one mny question the moral right of a land-owning house that owes its land to the trickery of a Tudor ancestor or the smiles of a king's mistress, to levy a charge for all time on all minerals under the surface, seizure without compensation would be confiscation and robbery. We may mention, to show how wrong it is to lump all royaltyowners together as a class and condemn them out of hand, that among those who levy these charges are the Ecclesiastical l Commissioners, and that the proceeds of this levy are applied to the stipends of poor clergy. But the amount of compensation to be paid to holders of royalties is a subject for legitimate criticism, ■and the Government must be prepared to go under fire when it brings down detailed proposals under this head. As for Mr. Hartshorn's threats. 1-et us hope that reflection will bring him and his colleagues to a calmer frame of mind. The miners do not get all they want, but they get a great deal. The abolition of royalties will remove .jne of the men's rankling grievances. The scheme of unification and joint control is designed to regulate profits and improve conditions, give the State, close supervision over the 'industry, and admit 'the men to a share m the management. All this, surely, is from the men's point of view a substantia! improvement on present conditions. The threat to do nothing to help the Government is foolish and tinnational. It is direct action of a kind, and a form of blackmail. After all, powerful and essential as the miners are, they arc not the whole nation, and they have no right to dictate to the Government what it shall do.