LESS COAL MINED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 233, 2 October 1942, Page 3

LESS COAL MINED

Conditions Of Industry In Britain REMEDIES SUGGESTED British Official Wireless Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, October 1. Difficulties in the coal situation were not minimised by the Minister of Fuel and Power, Major Lloyd George, when the debate opened in the House of Commons. Against the production of 230,000,000 tons in the year which ended about the time of Dunkirk, said the Minister, production during the first five months of the present coal year had been at the rate of 200,000,000 tons a year. Taking various savings into consideration the current estimated deficiency was about lljooo,ooo tons. The question was how to meet this deficiency without interfering with the war effort or causing unnecessary hardship. He was satisfied the necessary savings could be achieved by voluntary means, but this meant the full co-operation of producers and consumers. Meanwhile full arrangements for rationing, if and when necessary, were practically complete. The present restrictions would be continued, but might have to be modified in the light of the supply position. To secure a greater measure of economy in the domestic use of gas and electricity, restrictions would be imposed. The Minister added that, as an insurance against the interruption of transport during the winter, he had been compelled to hold back certain coal in stock and Government dumps had been established in localities where the effects of interruption would be most serious.

I Major Lloyd George said that nearly 50,000 men had been returned to mining from the services and other industries during 1941 and 1942. No Minister responsible for producing coal would refuse additional manpower, but he reminded the House there were 17,000 more men in the coal industry this year than last, yet the output was 700,000 tons a week lower. More manpower was, therefore, not the only solution to the problem. An increased output from the present labour force could be achieved by concentration on more productive seams and pits and by the modernisation of methods.