DANGEROUSLY LOW

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26215, 27 July 1946, Page 7

DANGEROUSLY LOW

BRITISH COAL STOCKS MINISTER TAKEN TO TASK COMPLACENCY DEPLORED (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent! LONDON, July 25. Headed by the Daily Mail’s demand that Mr Attlee replace the present Minister of Fuel by “a man with strength, character, and ability to nanuie a reaiiy big job,” the press this morning emphasises the gravity of the British coal situation and criticises the failure of Mr Emanuel Shinwell to produce a clear-cut policy to meet the tmeatened winter shortage of 5,000,000 tons. The criticism is particularly directed against the Minister’s reluctance to use foreign labour to compensate for the drift of British workers from mining and to check the growth ox voluntary absenteeism. “ Somehow or other Mr Shinwell must attract young men to this ageing industry. At present the truth seems to be that his deparment is reluctant to encourage Polish labour because the British miners don’t like foreigners,” says the Manchester Guarcun. “ For all our insularity we shall have to get used to the idea of using foreign labour and make good our shortages.” The Guardian accuses Mr Shinwell of being “ less than candid ” in his references to the amount of Polish labour available, and asks in what light the prospects of employment in British mines was presented to the Poles. It stresses that the British coal shortages not only constitute a grave threat to Britain’s internal recovery, but also to world recovery. Surplus British coal should have been used to rehabilitate Germany and sweeten tempers all over Europe. “ One reason for the failure to maintain output is absenteeism,” says the Glasgow Herald. “Mr Shinwell is significantly silent about this. If voluntary absenteeism could be eliminated Britain would have enough coal for her .needs and even a margin for export. Absenteeism is a luxury that cannot be afforded in any industry, least of all in coal mining.” The Herald adds that it is Mr Shinwell’s duty not only to recruit a larger labour force, but to inculcate a better spirit among the British miners.

The Times says the gloomy figures revealed do not warrant any complacent, assumption that all will be well. Success in maintaining and increasing the output will depend on more con-

tinuous working by more miners and on more successful recruiting, and, above all, on tapping new sources of labour supply, particularly Irish and Poles. The Financial Times, describing Mr Shinwell’s speech as “ a pale apologia,” says: “ If stocks are not built up there will be chaos in industry and discomfort in the home this winter.” The Yorkshire Post says that Mr Shinwell’s “ lyrical references to the new dispensation.” fail to reveal any of the promised stimulus to extra production in nationalisation, and adds that the Minister’s “ faith that we shall overtake the deficiency is rather an aspiration , than a, conviction, and is bolstered up with uncertainties/’ The Daily Herald and Daily'Mirror do not refer to the coal situation editorially.