The Coal Trouble, * • On Monday it was announced that
owing to the reduced quota for March, many pits in the Midlands area, partici'. larly in Yorkshire, would not be. able to_ supply their customers, and that prices - would in -consequence be raised. It was suggested -that there _might be &shortage of coal in. London, which.draws,much of its coal from this area. The Coal Merchants' Federation accordingly made representations to Mr. Shinwell, who referred them to the. National Committee of Investigation, which will meet after we have gone to press. He said that the reports of the shortage , were grossly exaggerated. These events f3llowed within three days upon the refusal of the arbi- t:ators to allow an increased quota for the area for March, apparently on the grounds that the area had caused its own troubles by raising too much coal in the first two months of the quarter. This judgment was supported both by- the representatives of the Lancashire area, who complained of price-cutting by Midland firms, and by other districts which have supplies of coal in hand. The matter has therefore already been considered, and we hope that it will be possible to adjust the difficulties without damage to the schemes which have been set up.
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