BRITAIN'S COAL SUPPLY.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 3890, 3 December 1919, Page 4

BRITAIN'S COAL SUPPLY.

CONTROL OF THE INDUSTRY. DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS .By T-l-cr-^.— Copyright.i (Aust.-N.Z. Cable AssocniUoii.. (Heuter'- ielegratua.) juonuoi., _-.o*.Ci.:--.i _.. In the House of -Oinmoiis, in opening tlie coat debate, Mr. Brace moved ror the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into coal control and _ne nosition of tho coal-mdustry in regard to selling prices, profits, cost ot woduc-tion. and output. He complained that tho Government had refused to co-operate with the miners, who- wero driven cc despair at tho blunders of tho Coal Department. Ho attributed the shortag'i of output to the lack of uovelopm.i. t by tno owners and the lack o\ transport, The miners' s.lu.io. was nationalisation, but they ware prepared to co-operate in any systoin to escure larger production. Replying, Sir Auckland Geddes said the suggested committee was undesirable, because it would not bo an export one. The Government had nothing to concal, but objected to the , ommittee because it wanted to get on with the job. Tho controlling factors of the situation were mainly outside this country. In October the industry showed a deficit of nine millions. The ■mall proportion of coal which was being exported was making tremendous profits, and tho large proportion which was being used inland was making a loss. It was anticipated that the above deficit would he paid off in December, and tii.it there would be a profit of seventeen millions at the end of the financial year. This estimated surplus would be used to reduce domestic prices. He defended this policy on the ground that the money could not be devoted to a better object than reducing tlie cost of living, because a further rise must lead to new demands for higher wages, so perpetuating the vicious circle of the increasine cast of living and wages, which, if continued, would strangle tlie industry in the country. Referrine to the resignation of the miners' representatives on tho advisory committee on tbe ground that they were not being consulted. Sir Auckland Geddes said be thought it undesirable to consult them roccntly, but if they were prepared to co-ope-rate ni tho spirit in which Mr. Brace bad just spoken ho would welcome I their assistance " I Tho motion was defeated by _VS-| votes to 59. I

* TH_.t"liO Ai-i- i.iiLl.Af.Y SPORTS CLUB.