BRITISH COAL TRADE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15987, 2 December 1919, Page 3

BRITISH COAL TRADE.

A GOVERNMENT STATEMENT. (Reuter.) LONDON, November 27. At the opening of the coal debate in the House of Commons, Mr Brace moved for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the coal control and the position of the coal industry in regard to the selling prices, profits, cost of production, and output. He complained that the Government refused to cooperate with the miners, who .wore driven to despair by the blunders of the Coal Department. He •attributed the shortage of the output to the lack of development by the owners, and lack of transport. The miners’ solution was nationalisation, but they were prepared to ■ cooperate in any system to secure Hie larger production. ' Replying, Sir Auckland Geddes said that the suggested committee was undesirable because it would not he an expert one. The Government had nothing to conceal, hut obccled to the committee, because it wanted to get on with the job. The controlling factors of the situation were mainly outside this country. In October, the industry showed a deficit of nine millions sterling. The small proportion of the coal which was being exported was making tremendous profits, but the large proportion being used inland was making the loss. It was anticipated that the above deficit would he paid oil' in December, and there would he a profit of seventeen millions at the cud of the financial year. This estimated surplus was being used to reduce the domestic prices. He defended this policy on the ’ground that the money , could not he devotedto a better object than reducing the cost of living, because a further rise must lead to new demands for higher wages, so perpetuating the vicious circle of increasing cost of living and wages, which, if continued, would strangle the industry of the country. Referring to the resignation of the miners’ representative on the advisory committee on the ground of not being consulted. Sir Auckland Geddes said that he thought it undesirable to consult them recently, but if they were prepared to co-operate in the spirit whex-ein Mr Brace had just spoken, they would be welcomed. The motion was defeated by 254 to 59. A FRENCH PROTEST. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. PARIS, November 27. The French Government has protested to the British Government against the raising of the export price of coal.