GOAL INDUSTRY CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19265, 2 March 1926, Page 9

GOAL INDUSTRY CRISIS.

COMMISSION IN BRITAIN. REPORT EXPECTED SHORTLY. COOK'S LATEST WARNING. LABOUR'S UNITED STRUGGLE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received 8.35 p.ni.) Renter. LONDON, Feb. 28. The momentous report of the Coal Commission is expected to be issued this week. Labour leaders devoted their usual Sunday speeches to a discussion of the possibilities of a conflict. Mr. A. J. Cook, general secretary of the Miners' Federation, said that until May, when the present subsidy to the industry is timed to cease, he would work night and day for peace. He said he believed the miners wore going to win the greatest victory in the annals of the Labour movement, and he hoped it would be won without a struggle. He warned the Government and the mineowners, however, that if they atarted a struggle it would be the end of capitalism.

The secretary of the National Union of Railwayman, Mr. C. T. Cramp, speaking at Nuneaton, said if an attempt were made to reduce the standard of living of the miners the latter would receive the united support of all the trades unions. Nevertheless, unlike some of his friends, he did not foresee the inevitability of a great crisis.

The Coal Commission, or Court of Inquiry, was appointed by the British Government in July, 1925, to inquire into the position in the industry. The personnel was as follows: —Mr. H. P. Macmillan, K.C. (chairman), Mr. W. Sherwood ana Sir Josiah Stamp. Ihe secretaries to the Court were: Mr. C. S. Hurst, Mines Department, and Mr. G. H. luce. Ministry of Labour. Mr. Macmillan is the ex-Lord Advocate who, at the personal request of Mr. Mac Donald, agreed to hold that office during the Labour iVdmiaistration on the understanding that ihe position would be regarded as strictly non-political for the time being. He had been acting as leading counsel for the Glasgow Corporation before the House of Commons Committee, which was considering the Glasgow Bill, and was also chairman of the Royal Commission on the Lunacy Laws. Sir Josiah Stamp is wellknown as the British representative on the Reparation Commission's Committee on German Currency and Finance, as a member of the Committee on laxation *nd National Debt, and as the author of many publications dealing with economics and finance. Mr, Will Sherwood has "St.ablished a considerable reputation in the Labour world as the national organiser of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers, as a member of the joint committee of inquiry into the shipbuilding industry, and as a member of the Metalliferous Mines Advisory Committee of the Mines Department. The Court was given no administrative power, its purpose being to hear all the evidence available on the subject and thus to help the public to. form ita own opinions as to the merits of the dispute between the owners and the rnineowners. Ihe jects on which information was sought were:—General statistics; demand for British coal; utilisation of coal; obsolescence and replacement of mines; finance and ownership of mines; methods of working ; marketing and distribution; wages, hours, accidents, and diseases; housing, etc. 5 joint committees; _ costs other than wagesproceeds of the industry; research royalties: nationalisation of mines; and experience in other countries. In connection with the subsidy which the Government undertook to pay to the industry until April 30 next (by doing which the critical situation was eased in July), it is estimated that the total cost to the country will be between £21,000,000 and £22,000.000. It is the approaching ter mination of the period fixed for the payment of this subsidy which is now looming and taking the form of another serious crisis. The question exercising the minds of all concerned is. whether the industry can meet the demands of the when the subsidy ceases or whether the rnineowners will insist upon a reduction in wages, and an increase in the woikmg hours. These are the issues which the miners say they are determined to resist, A continuance of the subsidy in a modified form has been suggested as the way ou,t of the difficulty, but the report of the commission will, it is hoped, off Brother suggestions for solving the problem.