NATIONAL MINES FOR THE NAVY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 17 April 1912, Page 4

NATIONAL MINES FOR THE NAVY.

The “Daily Chronicle” Parliamentary correspondent says- that a likely proposal is that tlie Government should buy out some of the collieries which supply steam coal to the Navy, and work them in the national interest. The best steam coal for naval purposes comes from South Wales. Acquisitions by the Admiralty of a few coal-mines in this coalfield is an idea that has often been mooted, and the present crisis in the coal trade has revitalised it. Without an uninterrupted supply of coal Britain’s naval predominance is a vain thing. Can the Government trust the supply of this first necessity of naval strength to the hazards of a system of private trading, perpetually liable to be hampered like the South Whiles coal industry, by an almost continuous warfare between Capital and Labour? Whatever the issue of the present crisis the project of State-owned coalmines for tht* supply of fuel to the British Navy is certain now to be seriously considered. As good a case, it is held, can be made .out for a State coal-mine as for a State dockyard or arsenal.