Sir Arthur Duckhean, the third independent Commissioner, reported that no
case had been made out for nationalization. He proposed that in each district the collieries should be amal- gamated under a statutory company or Disttio.:, Coal Board, paying a minimum dividend of four per cent. guaranteed by the
State. Two of the directors would be elected by the miners and one by the mining managers. A State engineer would attend the Board meetings. If any District Board failed in four years out of seven to pay the minimum dividend, and to repay the Govern- ment advances within seven years, the State would be entitled to take over the shares at a valuation based on the results of the seven years' working. Pit Committees would discuss conditions of labour but not wages. The accounts of all the District Boards would be published yearly by the Ministry of Mines. There is something to be said for Sir Arthur Duckham's scheme as a practical compromise between the present system and nationaliza- tion. It would give the State a measure of control and the miners a share in the management without depriving the directors and managers of the ordinary incentives to economy and efficiency.
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