BOSSES’ PLAN FAILS.

Grey River Argus, 10 January 1928, Page 3

BOSSES’ PLAN FAILS.

More Coal for Less Wages. NOW WORSE OFF THAN EVER. In the first quarter of 1927 the output per man shift exceeded the figure of .20.32 cwt for June, 1914. This is shown from the table below, which gives the total tonnage raised per person employed in the first quarter of each year since 1920

Those figures and the following quotations, taken from the (i Colliery Guardian,” should give the miners a clear indication of how the bosses reason:— “Wo do not think that it is necessary to adorn these figures with any further moral, beyond pointing out that they completely justify the coal-owners’ policy, which was to win back trade and restore this country’s position in the world markets without reducing the earnings of the workers unnecessarily (!) “It may be urged that since the end of April prices, sand in some cases wages, have declined, but th j burden,such as it is, has not been fairly distributed. ’ ’ We should not be inclined to listen to such arguments if, by the adoption of the coal-owners’ proposals, and indication of recapturing the world’s markets had already appeared on the horizon. But a careful examination of the export figures, and the coal trade generally, nails the lie to the counter, and proves the fallacy of reducing 1 the miners’ wages or lengthening the working day, and the utter failure to accomplish what they set out to achieve.

Further quotations are very illuin i nat ing:— “During the past week the Londloi coal trade has shown in all its • ranches a complete lack of life. It lias been a case of ‘all supply and no ilemand,’ which makes business impossible.” “The Tyneside remains practically .inchanged, and contracts obtained usually entail a severe cutting of “Scotland. —No change of importnice has occurred in the export branch of the coal trade, and the scarcity of orders for practically all lescriptions of fuel is pronounced” “Newcastle. —The general inquiry for eoal remains about the same, but, r is sales are only effected by severe •utting of prices, the financial state :if the local coal trade is showing no signs of improvement, and the October business looks like being as unprofitable as earlier months. “Middlesborough.—Business on a very limited scale, and frequent price concessions are made to secure orders.”

“Stoke-on-Trent.—The % demand for house coals has slackened off considerably during the past week.” “Leeds. —There has been a marked decline in the consumption of household fuel during the past week, and orders for all sorts are scarcer.” “Barnsley.—Apart from a more active demand for house coal, there has been little alteration in the position of business during the week.” “Doncaster.—On the whole, the market is somewhat disappointing.” “Newport-—There is little change in the position of the local fuel market, which has been weak and lifeless.” “Cardiff. —Although the general position shows a slight improvement, it is still far from satisfactory, and there are many idle appliances at most of the docks.” “Llanelly.—The general tone of the market continues far from satisfactory, and, outside one or two grades, the general inquiry is very disappointing. ’ ’ The burdens of inefficiency, bad organisation, and obsolete equipment, for which the miners are in no way responsible, has been tied tightly to th.ir backs, and cynical reference to “unfairly distributed” gives colour to the owners’ picture. We must concentrate our whole forces upon wresting the industry from the hands of the spoilers, and force the nation to take over this basic industry as the first step to the solution of our problems as miners.

Year, 1st quarter Total raised Average earnings Coal raised per per head per shift man-shift 1920 .. .. 53.10 .. .. 15.14 .. .. 14.06 1921 .. . . 44.42 . . .. 19.2 . . 14.46 1922 .. .. 56.49 .. .. 11.0} .. .. 18.23 1923 .. .. 61.67 .. . . 9.7} . . .. 1S.25 1924 .. .. 60.33 .. .. 10.2} .. . . 17.79 1925 . . .. 58.15 .. 10.74 .. . . 17.9S 1926 .. .. 61.50 . . . . 10.4} . . . . 18.46 1927 .. .. 65.29 .. .. 10.7} .. .. 20.66