Mr. Smillie, in reply to Sir Robert Home, admitted that
but for State control the price of coal would be far higher than it is. Nevertheless, he contended that it was unnecessary to raise the price of " domestic coal " by 14s. 2d. a ton. The Federation was not prepared to go to the Industrial Court. The miners were entitled to far more than an extra two shillings a day, in view of the higher cost of living. He professed a desire to increase the output, but not if the Government were going to take the price of the additional amount of coal raised and pay off the war debt with it. He denied that the Industrial Court could be impartial. He suggested that the miners could fall back on the old Conciliation Boards and insist on higher wages, but he was reminded by Sir Robert Home that under State control the Conciliation Boards were no longer available. Sir Robert Home declined to promise that the State regulation of prices would be maintained, even if conditions changed and the price of exported coal fell to a normal level. Complaining that Sir Robert Home had not helped them out of a difficult! created by themselves, the miners rejected all his suggestions.
