ENGLISH COAL TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20302, 9 July 1929, Page 11

ENGLISH COAL TRADE.

AN IMPROVED OUTLOOK. A more cheerful picture than usual of the English coal industry was given by Mr. J. G. Macadams, who arrived in Sydney recently, after representing William Hunt and Sons, Limited, tool manufacturers, for five years in Scotland and North England. "Neither owners nor miners expect any sudden revival, but are working together for a gradual rehabilitation of the coal trade," he said. "A steady improvement has resulted, and many more mines arc in operation now than a year or two ago. Conditions generally have been improved by tho closing of uneconomical pits, which constituted a strain on the industry. C&al prices have pieserved a slow increaso, and enabled the more important pits to open." The miners, said Mr. Macadams, wcro in constant employment, though their wages had declined, and they realised that it was useless to expect higher wages under present conditions. Unemployinent. which was large, resulted from the fact that abnormal demands for coal had ceased, and were not likely to recur. These men would have to find employment, in other industries.