We cannot say that Sir Robert Horne's reply was entirely
clear. Nor do we understand why two months ago be raised the price of " domestic " coal to avert an expected deficit in the working of the collieries while he now seem s to look for a large " surplus." But he was perfectly right in rejecting the miners' claim to dictate the price of coaL That is a matter for the oonsumers and the Government, who are acting for the industry, Mr. Smillie's professed anxiety for the interests of the consumer would not deceive a child. His real object is to harass the community, by a strike or a threat to strike, because the Govern- ment, supported by the vast majority of the electors, will not yield to the Miners' Federation's demand for " nationalisation "- or " the mines for the miners." The Government's course is obvious. If the Miners' Federation is spoiling for a fight, the Government must choose a suitable moment and tell Mr. Smillie to do his worst. The British public is weary of these incessant threats from the miners, who are perhaps better off than any other class in the community. We should all suffer from a miners' strike, but the nation would win—and not Mr. Smillie.
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