“ MINERS FORM BULK OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18888, 14 October 1929, Page 13

“ MINERS FORM BULK OF THE UNEMPLOYED IN GREAT BRITAIN."

TROUBLE BEGAN WITH THE 1926 STRIKE, SAYS SEAMEN'S SECRETARY.

The opinion that, if the miners could be got back to work, Britain would soon again become prosperous, was expressed by Mr Robert F. Bell, overseas representative of the National Union of Seamen, who is visiting Christchurch, to a reporter yesterday. ‘‘ln fact,” he said, “the casual observer visiting the English cities migtit say, ‘WherQ is England’s poverty?’” The -miners formed the bulk of the unemployment problem, he said. If they could be given work, unemployment would disappear. The trouble began with the 1926 strike. During that period England lost a lot of her markets to America. “The Americans were not slow to take advantage of it, either,” he said. ‘ Most of the American mine-owners secured at that time two and tlireevear contracts, and most of these are only just now beginning to run out. If Britain can win back those markets. she will be oh the high road to prosperity.” PULVERISED COAL. Oil, too, had been a big factor Here, however, pulverised fuel might mean big things for Britain and particulasly for her coal industry. One or two ships were already equipped for. the | use of this fuel, and were proving very : successful. It was asked, he said, why Mr Ford and some of the other American men, who had tried it out, had not taken it up. It was because it was not in their interests to do so. There was oil in plenty in the United States, and they did not need the coal. Britain, however, could not afford to be dependent on oil. In time of a crisis she might be caught unprepared and with no place to secure supplies. Not only would the fleet be put out of action, but also the mercantile marine. It cost comparatively little to have ships equipped with the apparatus, and it might mean everything to Britain. SEAMEN’S WAGES. Conditions in the shipping industry in Britain were fairly good, though, judged by New Zealand standard*, they seemed poor. England was too near the Continent for the men there to gain the conditions that New Zealand Teamen got. Their wages were the highest. paid in that part of the worlc, however.