COALYARDS AWARD

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22135, 3 July 1937, Page 20

COALYARDS AWARD

TO TUB EDITOR of THE PRESS Sir, —As a coalman, I feel bound to make use of the ridiculous statements made by “50-50” in your issue of June 29. No doubt the coal merchants are making an endeavour to abide by the new laws parsed by the Labour Government. There is nothing very hc-’-oic about that, as cormulsion is no choice. Now let "50-50” tell us what the merchants have ever done, exc-pt what the law has passed or demanded. In many instances they do not even do that. To blame the nublic for not ordering them coal earlier is onlv a shuttle, considering that most of the coal merchants been fa' l in,g ov°r one another in their attempt to satisfy the whims of the public, and in most cases at the exnense ef the poor coalman. Because the Labour Government has parsed laws restricting the merchants from working the coalman all the hours of the day and night, it is threatened with the loss of “50-5!Vs” support. However, thir is not likely to occasion much worry. Tf there is one clesr of workmen in this citv, both mentally and phvsically in need o f better working conditions, it is certainlv the coalmen. The very nature of work calls for a greater expenditure of energy under less favourob’e conditions. Th-> colder and more boisterous the weather, the greeter are the f , f'irp>pfls for their services. Now let “50-50” show me what the humane merchants do to ease the condit’ons at these t'mes. I know, but would like an answer from him. Do they ever think of providing him with some waterproofs, or a hot shower to thaw him out when he comes off the road, or a cun of hot morning or afternoon tea? Certainly not. To-day the coalman is merely regarded as a humap bullock, to satisfy the demands of an inconsiderate public on one hand and build up the profits of the merchant on the other. However, he is going the assert and demand the 40-hour week. He is certainly entitled to the conditions en-. joyed by workers in other industries, whether the coal merchant thinks so or not. I await “50-80’s” answer.— Yours, etc., WEARY COALMAN. July 2, 1937.