LABOURS PLANS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18591, 16 January 1926, Page 13

LABOURS PLANS.

MINING REORGANISATION. BEFORE COAL COMMISSION. (FY CABLE— rBESS ASSOCIATION'—COPYRIGHT.) (aSVTEa's TELEGRAMS.) LOXDOX, January 14. Far-reaching plans for the reorganisation and development of the mining industry, and the creation of a national powM and transport system, have been prepared by a joint committee, representing the whole Labour movement, and submitted to the Coal Commission. It involves the nationalisation of miners and collieries, and the transformation of the industry from coalextracting to a coal-utilising industry manufacturing electricity ou a large scale and dealing with the numerous byproducts^ The formation is proposed of a Power and Transport Commission, representing all interests, including workers and consumers. to co-ordinate efforts throughout tho country. The proposals, which include complete details, provide for tho expropriation of the present owners' interests by means of stock issued to each vendor for an amount based on the present market price of the holdings, while tho capital expenditure will be provided by a special coal-development loan, redeemable at a fixed date.

LABOUR SCHEME EXPLAINED. (attstbaxiak and b.z. cable association.) LONDON, January 14. Professor R. H. Tawney, a leading Labourite economist, who explained th« miners' proposals to the Coal Commission, expressed the opinion that the export of coal at present was not effectively organised, exposing the industry to less favourable conditions than if there were one single export system. Questioned regarding the proposals for the regulation of wages, Professor Tawney said that he did not suggest any system of compulsory arbitration. The miners suggested that there should he bargaining between the representatives of the producers and consumers, and if they disagreed the matter 1 would go to an independent tribunal. Professor Tawney said that the State would have a monopoly of the Home trade under nationalisation. He agreed that if the industry under nationalisation had to pay its way without a subsidy three alternatives must be contemplated, namely, a reduction of wages, lengthening of hours, or the contraction of industry. He said that the miners maintained the right to withhold labour under nationalisation.

Cross-examined, Professor Tawney said in regard to the proposals that the memoranda had not been submitted to a ballot of the miners.