Coal for the Winter
No long-term programme for the miners will affect the output of the coal-mines during the approaching winter, when the position will be considerably worse than it was last winter unless production increases. The reserves are smaller than they were last autumn, and output has fallen further. The dismal record of ever-diminish- ing production has been due to many causes—fewer miners, the large proportion of older men, fatigue, absenteeism, stoppages and discontent. Mr. Shinwell has set himself to prove that a Labour Government, which has promised the policy traditionally espoused by the miners, will do better than its predecessors. For the six winter months he has set the industry a target of at least 8,000,000 extra tons, which is the very least the country can do with if it is to avoid extreme distress. He has appealed first to the miners' trade union leaders, who undertake to do all they can through the organised efforts of production officers and pit production com- mittees to win the support of the workers. He has appealed also to the colliery managers, whose status in the future will not, he assures them, be worsened by nationalisation ; and they have pro- mised their help in the interim period. The Mining Association, representing the owners, who, of course, believe in private enter- prise, none the less accepts the inevitability of nationalisation ; and, having been assured fair compensation will be forthcoming, promises co-operation both now, with a view to higher production, and after- wards, in facilitating the transfer to public ownership. Mr. Shinwell is planning to get more men back into the industry. Through ordinary demobilisation he will not get many into the mines till the winter is far advanced. Miners in the Services may yet have to be directed into the mines.
Previous page
