HEARTENING EFFECT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26354, 8 January 1947, Page 5

HEARTENING EFFECT

NATIONALISATION OF COAL MINES GREATER OUTPUT FORESEEN (Special Correspondent) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 7. Last year when the House of Commons passed the Bill authorising the nationalisation of the coal mines, Labour members triumphantly' sang “ The Red Flag ” as they passed through the division lobbies. Last week saw the hoisting of the National Coal Board’s royal blue flag with the initials,in white of the National Coal Board. Many celebrations were held on New Year’s Day, but that at Durham was delayed until the week-end when Lord Hyndley, chairman of the board and Mr Emanuel Shinwell, Minister of Fuel and Power, marched with the miners from the Miners’ Hall to the pithead at Murton collieries where the flag- was unfurled. Supplies Urgently Needed With reports that due to coal shortages, motor car works and brick workers might have to close down, and with the announcement that 10 expresses and 173 suburban and provincial trains will be cancelled this week to save coal and release locomotives for freight traffic, the New Year has begun with the public acutely realising the nation’s urgent need for coal. In the press there has been something like a battle, with newspapers of the Right fully publicising the shortages and thejp effects while being rather lukewarm about the Coal Board. The papers which support the Government declared that the Tories have been inventing the coal crisis and pointed out that the shortage was largely due to the record demand. It still adds up to the fact that Britain has not enough coal whichever way the subject is regarded. Lord Hyndley has declared that the board’s short-term target is 200,000,000 tons per year which “ should not prove too ambitious and should be achieved with a reasonable amount of reorganisation.” The board hopes that the modernisation of the pits, together with programmes in welfare training and education, will assist to secure a steady flow of recruits to the mines. Shorter Week in Sight Mr Shinwell declared that the promise of nationalisation had a heartening effect on the miners, which was reflected in a substantial rise in coal production. He added that “it looks as if a five-day week is in sight. I do not believe it is necessary for mine workers to work more than five days weekly, provided they work five days.” The nation as a whole is now waiting to see whether the nationalisation of the mines, which has been urged for 40 years, is going to have the desired result.' If not, the country as a whole and the Government in particular has an anxious time ahead.