COAL INDUSTRY

Southland Times, Issue 19823, 20 March 1926, Page 7

COAL INDUSTRY

BRITAIN'S PROBLEM REPORT WIDELY CIRCULATED CABINET COMMITTEE FORMED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Rec. 8.25 pan.) London, Mar. 19. Preparations are advancing to deal with the great national problem of the coal industry. Mr Baldwin's advice that neither side shall commit itself before digesting the Commission's report has been generally followed. The report is being widely circulated in the coalfields and printers are working feverishly to overtake the daily demand. The Premier specially asked members of Cabinet to devote last week-end to studying the report. The Cabinet committee has now been formed, Mr Baldwin presiding, and the matter came before the whole Cabinet on Monday, while the Premier asked the owners and the miners to meet him on Tuesday before their joint meeting fixed for Thursday. Apparently, therefore, the parties will soon be at close grips.—A. & N.N. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. CONTINUANCE OF SUBSIDY PROBABLE. (Rec. 8.25 p.m.» London, March 19. The Daily Telegraph says there is a strong impression that the Government will adopt the Commission’s recommendations in their entirety except as regards stopping the subsidy, in which connection there is a difference of opinion. A section of Cabinet is convinced that it is impossible to leave the industry to its own resources and further State help will be dependent on the attainment of a settlement for a fixed period, possibly five years, and may form a loan repayable as soon as the industry is rehabilitated. The Daily Herald says a continuance of the subsidy will not solve the problem, but should make it easier to find a basis for agreements. It hints that if it is devoted to making up the of those miners who otherwise might suffer by the adoption of the Commission’s proposals, the sky might begin to clear.—A. & N.Z.