AN EIGHT HOURS DAY IN BRITISH COAL-MINES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 77, 31 March 1908, Page 6

AN EIGHT HOURS DAY IN BRITISH COAL-MINES.

— . — « i Tt is not to be wondered at that British legislators approach with caution the question of reducing the labour day in coal mines, or that the heads of British industries depending for success j upon the cheap and plentiful and continuous production of coal should view : even tentative legislation with alarm. '• Great Britain is not in the happy position of New Zealand, as a small self- i 'supporting and loan-supported State with a high tariff and a limited popuiation, living on an artificial level by the exclusion of competition. Britain has a huge population who must be fed by competitive labour, and she has strong rivals who, urged by a similar necessity, are straining every nerve to oust her from the place in the world's markets upon the maintenance of which she relies for her prosperous existence. Any legislation that substantially raises the cost of coal to the iron trades, or to the hundred other trades, depending upon coal for their power, will create a small revolution in industry. The point is, Can British industry stand the strain , and if so, Just how much strain can industry stand? The answermay only be given by a trial of the measure now before the House of Commons, or of somo similar measure. The report of the committee appointed two years ago to enquire into the probable economic effect of an eight hours clay for coalminers was not very favourable to the limitation. The committee found that, under oxisting conditions, the average time from* bank to bank is 9 hours 3 minutes; for hewers, 8 hours 36 minutes ; and for other underground workers in British coal-mines 9 hours 28 minutes — though the hours vary greatly in different districts, and in some mines are admittedly excessive. Making allowances for stoppages and short days, the average full 'week's work amounts to 40 hours 53 minutes. The institution of an eight-hour day would reduce this time by 10.27 per cent., involving an annual loss of production of 1,340,716 tons, calculated on tho basis of the output of 1906. But lhi> committeo found that tho hours actually worked by the men are 13.36 per cent, less than their theoretical full time. Tho committee was of opinion that Ihe health and physiquo of coalminers compares favourably with that of any other class of work-people, and thought that a legal limitation of hours underground to eight per day could not ba oxpocted to produce any marked diango. And it was held that an imlnerliato advance of prices, wages, and demand for labour would appear to bo the inevitable consequence of a legal limitation of hour 3 which involved an immediate reduction of output. We are glad that the British Governj mont has not been detorred from action by the gloomy report of tho committee. Many of tho bogeys raised on such occasions aro apt to vanish ns soon as their substance is tosted ; and tho progress of industrial legislation would havo stopped long ago if tho vaticinations of prophets of inevitable disaster had been heeded. Tho Bill introduced to tho Houso of Commons lnst year permits nine hours to remain tho legal day until tlio middle of next year, alter which term tho definite sight-hours dny from bank to bank was to be observed. But tho Bill has time-serving clauses. Power is given to extend tho working hours on not more than sixty days in any year by not move than ono hour a day ; and ;i goneral power of suspending tho Act in added. "His Majesty may, in the event of war pi* of imminent national

danger or great emergency, or in the event of any grave economic disturbance due to the demand for coal exceeding the supply available at the time, by Order-in-Couneil suspend this Act to such extent and for such period as may be named in the Order, either as respects all coal mines or any class of coal mines." Ono would think these reservations sufficient to meet any reasonable anxiety. Our cable messages on Saturday, however, conveyed an intimation by the Home Secretary that the Bill would provide for an additional half-hour's time, so that the total from bank to bank will be really eight and a -half hours. If with this provision piece-workers do not contrive to equal the present product, British experience of the fortunate result of lessening the labour day will be contrary to tho result of our experience in New Zealand.