Britain's Gamble in Coal-Five-Day week for miners Raises Doubts

Wanganui Chronicle, 6 May 1947, Page 5

Britain's Gamble in Coal-Five-Day week for miners Raises Doubts

Special Correspondent, N.Z.P.A. Reed. 6 p.m. London, May 4 A new era in Britain's industry begins this week. Henceforward, coal-miners are to work only five days a week instead of five and a-lialf. j This is one of the most important decisions taken by the Labour' Government, and it has caused; some doubts among the public, in I Government circles, and even I among some of the mine-workers. 1 The Government has declared that ’ Britain requires at least 200,000,000 tons yearly to meet her minimum requirements. The present production: is 10,000,000 below that figure. The loss of a half day’s work each week, it is estimated, may result in a reduction of a further 18,000,000 tons annually. The question generally being asked is how I he Government, target of 200,000,000 tons, let alone the Trades Union Congress and the Federation of British Industries target of 220,000,000 tons is to be achieved. The answer is the hone that, the miners will now reduce absenteeism, increase their production, and that, more recruits will be attracted to the mining industry. MINISTER APPREHENSIVE Even Mr. Shinwell (Minister of Fuel), who has a reputation for making optimistic statements, has declared to the House of Commons that he is apprehensive. “I am wholly in favour of a five-day week for the miners, and whatever happens I won’t withdraw my opinion,” he was stated to have said. “I prefer to wait until the end of May ibefore making up my mind as to the effect on production. If it does not ' work out as we have honed, we shell have to come to Parliament and say ■ so.” '

••oateoeoeweeeeeeeeeaaaeea In Geneva, Mr. Arthur Horner, general secretary of the British Mineworkers’ Federation, and one of the most influential men in the coal mining industry, has echoed the public’s doubts. The theoretical reduction of output by 18,000,000 tons, he said, would be catastrophic if true. “We are determined, however,” he addad, “to secure the necessary coal target on an organised five-day week, which we think can enable us to do better than in a six-day week If. however, experience does not justify this, we shall consider the position.” DEPENDS ON MINERS Everything, of course, depends on the miners, and to impress upon them the gravity, of the situation, Lord ■ Hyndley, chairman of the National! Coal Board, has sent a leaflet to every

mineworker, printed/hi blue, white and black, saying: “It is up to you!” In recent months there has been v.ome improvement hr the mines. Mr. Shinwell has stated Vhat in the first four months of this year 3,500,000 tons more coal were produced than in the corresponding period last year, and that since the begirt ning of the year there has been a net recruitment of 18,000 men and boys to the mines. Yet production is still not. enough to reach even the Government s target if 200.000,000 tons are to be mined this year. A weekly average output of 14,000,000 tons will be reauired. This (figure was only exceeded twice this year. During the first quarter the weekly average was 3,776.000 tons. ABSENTEEISM Absenteeism, although lower than last year, is still high, and it is declared, cost more in terms of coal than in the winters’ frost and flood. Facts such as these cause the introduction of a five-day week to be regarded as a gamble. The miners, however, regard the new working week as a distinct break with the “bad old days” before the I war. Yet, in 1938. absenteeism was icnlv 6.44. compared with 1613 to-day. (While the output per man ner shift, i was 1.14, comnared with 1.05 to-day, !a drop of nearly 2 cwt. i It is calculated that if everv mineworker reduced his absenteeism to the 1938 standards, and raised his working tempo to the 1938 six-day week levels. Britain’s coal output would bo raised by 45,000,000 tons anI nually. Production figures will be watched very carefully during the coming weeks. Meanwhile British industry, as announced by Sir Stafford Cripps, is to bo allowed as much coal as it used last summer, and it is honed that rei serve stocks can be raised during these 'months from the present figure of 6.000,000 to 15,000,000 tons.