TWO-FOLD PROBLEM

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 12 March 1926, Page 5

TWO-FOLD PROBLEM

BRITISH COAL CRISIS.

SAFEGUARDS RECOMMENDED. REPORT OF COMMISSION. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION COPYRIGHT. LONDON, March 10. The report of the Coal Commission is unanimous. It says the change '•> the fortunes of the coal mining industry, as a result of powerful economic forces, cannot be attributed to political unrest, restriction of outpu. among the miners on the one hand am. inefficiency of management on the other. The report proceeds: At the same time we cannot agree with the miner owners that little can be clone to improve the organisation of the industry and that the only practicable course* is to lengthen the houis of work and lower wages. In our view large changes are necessary in other directions. Much progress is possible and measures »are indispensable to deal immediately with the position. The pro!) lem is twofold: It has a permanent as a temporary aspect.” xWtionalisation rejected. The report details defects in the industry and rejects the proposal of the Miners’ Federation to nationalise the mines as unworkable and not offering a clear social gain. The report proceeds: “We perceive therein grave economic dangers and find no advantages unobtainabe in other ways. We therefore contemplate the continuance ot the- industry under private enterprise, bur make a" number of proposals for reorganisation. ’ ’ After detailing these the report refers to the nation’s grave anxiety last summer when confronted with the possibility of industrial conflict on an unprecedented scale, and says the way to prosperity lies on three chief lines of advance, namely, greater application of science to winning and using coal, larger units for production and distribution, and 1 fuller partnership between the employers and the empoyed. In all three respects progress must come mainly from within the industry. The State can help materially, firstly by substantial payments to aid research; secondly, by removing obstacles to amalgamation under the existing leases; thirdly, as the owner of minerals, by determining the conditions of new leases; fourthly, by legislation for the establishment of pit committees and profit-sharing, and m other ways. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. “The future depends primarily on leadership and the general level of opinion among' mine owners and the miners,” says the report. “We arc firmly convinced that if the present difficulties are wisely handled the . mining industry, with the aid of science, will certainly recover and even surpass its former prosperity.” The report, under the heading of recommendations for reorganisation, says: “The past error in allowing the ownership of the coal to fall into private hands should •be retrieved. Minerals should be acquired by the State by purchase where they have a market ' value and by the declaration of State ownership in cases of improved or deep level coal, which at present has no market value. Safeguards should be adopted against excessive compensation claims. A Coal Commission should be appointed under tlie authority of the Secretary of Mines to acquire and administer mineral property. Amalgamation of the many present small units of production is bitli desirable and practicable.' Any •general measure for .compulsory amalgamation would be mischievous, and each case should-be treated individually. The State, as the mineral owner, would be able to promote desirable amalgamations when granting or requesting leases-. ’ ’ The report says a closer connection by mining witli its allied industries, not merely electrical, should be promoted, and the development of the electrical supply under the new Government proposals should be closely co-ordinated with the generation of electricity at the mines. The heat, power and light requirements of the country should be under a constant comprehensive survey by a body formed for the purpose. The committee proposes the establishment of a National Fuel and Power Committee, witli advisory powers, composed of representatives nominated by the Gov ernment from official and other bodies concerned.-

NEED FOR RESEARCH. The existing provision for research should be largely extended by the industry, with the support of the, State. It is urgently necessary to find new methods of winning and utilising coal, and great national advantages' ensue if processes of low temperature car bonisation are perfected, particularly through the production of stokeless fuel, and the provision of large supplies of mineral oil. The State should finaneiallv support further experiments. V The report, under the heading of distribution, says the industry failed to realise the benefits of co-operation and •■'the large financial advantages derivable from the formation of co-opera-tive selling agencies, which were especially needed for the export trade. The. Government should consider the establishment of an official system for sampling the analysis of coal with a view to encouraging selling on specification and guarantee in both the home and foreign market. Local authorities should be empowered to engage in the retail sale of coal. The report states that changes are necessary in the relations between the employers and the employed, which are of fundamental importance, and amendments are needed in the methods of ascertaining the proceeds of the industry for fixing the wages standard. The length of tire working day now averages 74 hours underground, and it should not be altered, but the optional redistribution of hours within the, present weekly total over a week of five instead of six days should be considered. The multiple shift system should be extended and .joint pit committees should be generally established. The methods of the payment of men not employed at the face should be revised in order to give them a direct interest in the output, and the introduction of a family allowance system is desirable. Pooling schemes should be adopted to prevent married men with families being prejudiced in obtaining employment. Profit-sharing | schemes should be generally adopted, L and made obligatory by statute. Proper provision for houses for the workers should be a condition of lease in all new collieries. The general establishment of pithead baths is necessary. This should be undertaken by the existing Miners’ Welfare Fund, which should be increased by a substantial contribution from royalties

Annual holidays with pay should he established when prosperity returns to the industry.

WAGES QUESTION.

Proceeding, the report says: “A period of months is necessary to bring into effect any of these measures, but a reorganisation of years is necessary to bring all into full operation. We express no opinion as to whether tho grant subsidy last July was unavoidable, but we think its continuance is indefensible. The subsidy should lapse at the end of its authorised term, and should never be repeated.”

The report points out that after rejecting the mine owners’ proposal to increase the hours and reduce the wages, and largely diminish the railway rates by lowering the wages of the railwaymen, the Miners ’ Federation abstained from, suggesting a means of meeting the immediate situation, and therefore the duty devolved on the commission to formulate proposas. The report says in conclusion: c ‘The minimum percentage of addition to the standard rates of wages fixed in P during the time of temporary prosperity is indispensable to save the industry from- impending disaster. The wages of the lowest paid men can be safeguarded by a continuance of the system of a subsistence allowance. Tlir reductions we contemplate, leave the mine owners without adequate profits, and should the miners prefer some extension of hours with less reduction in wages, Parliament will doubtless authorise it. We trust, however, this will not occur. Considerable variation in the rates of wages in several districts is bound to continue, but we are strongy of opinion that the national wage agreements should continue. We recommend that representatives of the employers and employed should meet.”