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REPORT OF THE COAL COMMISSION
R e c o m m e n d a t i o n s r e q u i r i n g Government A c t i o n
( o t h e r than the n a t i o n a l i s a t i o n of R o y a l t i e s )
Memorandum.by S e c r e t a r y
It
is
unnecessary
recommendations
to
improve
last
of
on t h e
to
clear
It
be n e c e s s a r y
t o what
their
and c o n c i s e
of
two q u e s t i o n s
recommendations
for
the
delay.
they accept
that
the
findings
and
it
would be
impossible
summary g i v e n
Government
The f i r s t
those
of
c a n o n l y be p u t
legislative
or
administrative
action.
what p o l i c y
is
to
be f o l l o w e d
t o meet
present
situation",:
call
"the
second p o i n t
on t h e
first;
present
Report
must
depend
and. I t
to
is
by o n e ,
would r e q u i r e
sets
action
by
theme
(Recommendations
without
action
It
will
has a l r e a d y
Government,
emphatic
are f u l l y
seen
It
the
disagreement.
into
effect
The
what
second
the
one o f
The
This
the
these
is
could
the
that
be
on
given
recommendations
by t h e
Department
grounds
of
ignored).
an^r e j e c t e d
others
the
a n d comments
effect
are
decision
chapters
Government,
which
the
that
the
to
is
Commission
on
alone
the
or
by
upon t h e
first
takes
consider
Commission's
the recommondations
been c o n s i d e r e d
explained.
in
whether,
out
that
W i t h two
the
some e x t e n t
by t h e G o v e r n m e n t
be
is
to
The d e c i s i o n
w i t h the
memorandum d e a l s .
one
c
Report-
without
extent,
sur.ir.iarise
Mines
the Commissionj
chapter
will
for
e
of
present
is
in
disagreement
done r a t h e r
in
order
that
the c r i t i c i s m t o which these p r o p o s a l s are open may be
presor.it t o the minds of L i u 1st or s thai,, by wry of
fully
a suggestion
that the Government ought to r e j e c t
The importance of
them.
a d e c l a r a t i o n by t h e Government
they accept
the Report
to do sc i s
obvious,
unreservedly
especially
if
they f e e l
i n view of
the
that
able
emphasis
w i t h which the Comnisalon r e c o r d t h e i r view that
the
immediate r e d u c t i o n o f wages recommended by them " s h o u l d
depend upon the acceptance by a l l
of r e - o r g a n i s a t i o n , as w i l l
l e a s e of p r o s p e r i t y
parties
of
secure t o the i n d u s t r y a new
leading to higher wages",
by the Government at t h i s
s t a g e does n o t ,
effect
in a l l
i t m e r e l y means that
eventualities j
of t h e i r
to a l l
the
own m o t i o n , r e f u s e
"Acceptance"
of c o u r s e , mean
aji undertaking t o g i v e
w i l l not,
such measures
recomnerjdations
the
Government
t o take the
steps
t h a t the Commission have recommended t h e y should, t a k e ;
how f a r
they may a c t u a l l y
largely
on the a t t i t u d e
n e i t h e r Chapter I
nor Chanter I I
be c a l l e d upon t o do so must depend
of
the other
"parties".
(on the demand, f o r
coal),
British
(on the B r i t i s h c o a l r e s e r v e s )
contains
a ny r e c omr.er.da t i on. s .
Chapter I I I , on the U t i l i s a t i o n
of C o a l , makes the
f o l l o w i n g t h r e e recommendations :
sistance
( l ) That "the Government should g i v e sympathetic
Low
mperature
c o n s i d e r a t i o n t o any or op o s a l s of the F u e l Research
rbonisation.
ee pp , 2 5 -
Board f o r
the f u r t h e r
investigation
of p r o c e s s e s
Low Temperature C a r b o n i s a t i o n on a commercial
( 2 ) That " i f
to r e p o r t
scale."
and when the F u e l R e s e a r c h Board i s
t h a t a smokeless s e m i - c o l e
as s u i t a b l e as raw c o a l
are l a r g e
of
users of
the semi-coke i n
,,
is
available
the Departments which
c o a l should he i n s t r u c t e d t o
prefererhe
able
purchase
MM
T h i s i s a matter
for
the Department
and I n d u s t r i a 1 R e s e a r c h r a t h e r
of
it
Co-ordinartion of
Electrical
Gas and Coal
Industries,
(See p p . 2 8 ­
31).
(3)
seems p e r f e c t l y
safe
to accept
as the
g&s i n d u s t r i e s f o r
comprehensive
and Power
the e l e c t r i c a l ,
the purpose of
survey of
r e q u i r e m e n t s of
of
worded that
should be formed under
N a t i o n a l Fuel
Committee" r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
c o a l and
"a continuous and
the h e a t ,
the c o u n t r y
light
It
and power
would e x e r c i s e
which would be a d v i s o r y and not, e x e c u t i v e .
t a s k would be t o ensure t h a t ,
should be m a i n t a i n e d ,
their
i n a manner complementary,
Its
while a healthy
where i t
these various i n t e r e s t s ,
energies
for'consideration".
a little
It
practice,
it
primary
between
should be d e v e l o p e d
i n t h e main, t o one a n o t h e r .
but as a " s u g g e s t i o n
Is d i f f i c u l t
how such a body would set
functions
competition
was l e g i t i m a t e ,
T h i s i s put f o r w a r d not as a " d e f i n i t e
nebulous..
Department;
themo ­
That a " s t a n d i n g C o n f e r e n c e "
some such t i t l e
:
Scientific
than the L i n e s
hat the recommendations a r e so c a u t i o u s l y
i
about i t s
would " a d v i s e " .
recommendation"
It
is
perhaps
to visualise
task,
just
or whom,
in
But no e x c e p t i o n can be
t o the idea u n d e r l y i n g the recommendation, and i n any
a general acceptance
of
consider
O b v i o u s l y the Government c o u l d not commit
themselves f u r t h e r
the i n d u s t r i e s
case
the recommendations i n the Report
does not here mean more than an und.erta.king to
the s u g g e s t i o n .
taken
than t h i s
without
consultation, with
cone erne-.1.
More money
for
Research,
(See ppc.39­
Chapter
IV. Research.
The only recommendation i n
chapter
directly
43),,
the v a l u a b l e work now b e i n g done on s a f e t y and h e a l t h be
affecting
continued and d e v e l o p e d .
almost e n t i r e l y
recommendation
expenditure
out of
the n i n e s Department i s
As t h i s
the L i n e r s '
does not n e c e s s a r i l y
from p u b l i c
about the development
this
funds,
work i s
"that
financed
vYelf are Fund,
mean any
this
further
C e r t a i n other
recommendations
of research, by the i n d u s t r y
itself
a p p a r e n t l y p o i n t t o i n c r e e seel e x p e n d i t u r e by the
Department of S c i e n t i f i c
end I n d u s t r i a l lie s e a r c h , and
that Department w i l l no doubt a d v i s e the Government on
the p o i n t .
industry
largely
There can be no doubt t h a t the c o a l raining
i n g e n e r a l has beon backward i n r e s e a r c h ,
owing t o i t s e x c e s s i v e
individualism.
Chanter V c o n t a i n s a long survey of
the I n d u s t r y ' ,
1
It
"the Structure
cornea t o the c o n c l u s i o n
g e n e r a l l y speaking,
that,
the e x i s t i n g u n i t s are t o o
and that amalgamationsare d e s i r a b l e ,
procedure i s r a t h e r
to foster
small
but that the
amalgam? t i o n s f o r
t h e r e i s a spontaneous movement w i t h i n the
right
which
industry
than to t r y t o imooso then by cut.side a u t h o r i t y .
exact n a t u r e of
the machinery recoi mended i s
o b s c u r e , hut the i n t e n t i o n
it
if; c l e a r
should be made i m p o s s i b l e f o r
to be venderocl
agree
abortive
on f i n a n c i a l
made under which, i f ,
after
Mines Department c e r t i f i e s
schemes of
that p r o v i s i o n
a l a p s e of
(a)
that
this
ought to amigsmate but r e f u s e
should be
fostering
sufficiently
concerns
which
will
outsider.
probably have a good
d e a l t o say about these p r c o o s n l s .
But, by comparison
w i t h the "Duekhan" Scheme, wt i c h the Government of
day accopted/in 1919, they c e r t a i n l y
s i d e of being t o o d r a s t i c ,
do not err
and p u b l i c
arguments on each s i d e are f u l l y
the n e p o r i .
the
on the
opinion w i l l ,
doubt, expect the Government t o a c c e p t them.
of
the
t o do so to be taken over
c o m p u l s o r i l y by sore e n t e r p r i s i n g
The h i n l n g A s s o c i a t i o n
to
by an un­
scheme of
would be p o s s i b l e f o r
that
amalgamation
three y e a r s ,
amalgamation from w i t h i n has not p r o v e d
, it
rather
enough, v i z ;
t e r m s , o r , by r e s i s t a n c e
and ( b )
successful
The
by , f or i n s t a n c e , f a i l u r e
reasonable m i n o r i t y ,
of
no
The
s e t out i n cages 49-62
Chapter VI
forward
is
for
a reasoned
rejection
nationalisation
of
of
the proposals
m i n e s and c o n t a i n s
put
no
recommendations.
Underground
way l e a v e s .
Chapter
(See p . 8 4 )
VII,
royalties,
recommending
is
But i t
includes
to
main s u b j e c t
its
for
this
sort
they
should
the
already
not
altogether
owners.
that
than
the
to
the p o i n t ,
is
to public
coal.
that
the
that
it
lapse
of two
of
1925,
the
arguments
furnished
(S)
and was
at t h a t
That
future'
charges
but
that
royalties
do
still
of
be
private
to
words
detriment
of
legislation.
recommendations
s h o u l d b e empowered
rather
do any g o o d ,
to
trade
dubiously,
and
should, r e v i e w t h e
not
recommend
situation
years-
rejected
the p r e s e n t
by them.
and a g a i n s t
the
Cabinet
A full
in.
statement
proposal
was
time.
inquiries
should
b e made i n t h e
principal
(oee
PP"?4;&
9 5
)'coal
importing -countries with
international
conference
discuss whether
it
of
future.
likely
makes t w o
was b e f o r e
for
or
purposes
will
Mines Department
This p r o p o s a l
March
the
b u t some c l e a r e r
The C o m m i s s i o n say t h i s
the
after
Authorities
certain
is
rendered
for
of
in
charge
rendered
for
i n t h e hands
opinion,
on D i s t r i b u t i o n , ,
Local
Is
there w i l l
one t h a t
is
needed
for
coal)
Ohapter V I I I ,
That
a
he a b o l i s h e d ,
created
( U o o 2 )
germane
impose
abolished
be
be
(l)
to
nationalisation
" w h e r e no s e r v i c e
feeling
l
he
should
be a l l o w e d
( a n d some
itself
right
strictly
w h e r e no s e r v i c e
suffered"will
in
M f l i c i a l sampling
mpd- a n a l y s i s .
"the
should
The p r i n c i p l e
commend
nicipal trading
ffiiu
ffln c o a l .
(See p p . 9 2 9 3 ) .
i n a s e p a r a t e memorandum
created
meet
other minerals
of
Commission meant was n o t t h a t
The p r o p o s a l s , f o r
not
nationalisation
a recommendation not
suffered
What
if
with
underground w a y l e a v e s
or d e t r i m e n t
1
dealt
the
would
a view
(should
it
be u s e f u l
to calling
an
seem d e s i r a b l e )
and p r a c t i c a b l e
to
to
establish
a Public Authority,
purchasers,
cargoes
h
i
colliery
export
s
by
i
s
a
ooal at t h e l o a d i n g
ports.
quest ion t h a t must be d i s c u s s e d w i t h
t o do t h e i r
part-
A Standing
Committee on
Chapter I X ,
on t h e Conveyance of
Mineral Trans-
improvements in r a i l w a y t r a n s p o r t ,
raeasure
0
the
owners, but t h e r e can be no reason why the
Government should not at once e x p r e s s t h e i r
(See p p . 1 0 4 - 1 0 6 ) .
foreign
f o r the purpose of sampling and a n a l y s i n g
of
T
recognised
f
provision
standardisation
coal,
advocates
e . g . by a g r e a t e r
o f wagons, an
o f wagons o f l a r g e r c a p a c i t y ,
of the p r i n c i p l e
o f common u s e r .
willingness
increased
and an e x t e n s i o n
In o r d e r t o s e c u r e
p r o g r e s s on t h e s e l i n e s , t h e Commission recommend
( a ) that
a Joint
Committee of the M i n i s t r y
of
Transport
and Mines Department should be a p p o i n t e d , whose duty
would be to s e e t h a t
" c o n t i n u o u s a t t e n t i o n was g i v e n t o
t h o s e m a t t e r s " and t o r e p o r t t o P a r l i a m e n t
annually;
( b ) t h a t t h e a p p r o p r i a t e Department, (presumably the
Ministry
of
regulations
Transport)
if
should be g i v e n power t o make
f o r the s t a n d a r d i s a t i o n
recommendation of t h e
( c ) that
Joint
legislation
of wagons,
i s n e c e s s a r y t o enable t h e
recommendation f o r p r e f e r e n t i a l
t o the
rates
c a p a c i t y and common u s e r wagons,
i t should
"accept"
then.
Chapter X -
hut t h e r e does
( s u b j e c t t o the v i e w
T r a n s p o r t ) why t h e
General
be p a s s e d .
have t o be d i s c u s s e d w i t h t h e
not seem t o be any reason
of
Commission^
on l a r g e
Railway Companies and t h e Coal T r a d e .
Ministry
on the
Committee;
Railway Companies t o g i v e e f f e c t
These a g a i n w i l l
of
Observations
on the
Relations
-
Output, c o n t a i n no recommendations r e q u i r i n g
Government.
the
Government should not
between Employers and Employed - amd Oha^ter 2ht,
by the
it
on
action
Owapulsory
profit­
sharing
[See p p o l 4 1 - 3 ;
Chapter X I I ,
contains
wages
.
end makes numerous r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s
system
Government
schemes
The o n l y
"that
b e made
by s u i t a b l e
should
adopt
one t h a t
legislation
be r e q u i r e d ,
distributed
above
reserved
as s h a r e s
as a c a u s e
Commission were
of u n r e s t ,
determines
concerns
should
proposal
for
view
is
it,
this
question
favoiir)
give
It
their
views.
condition
in
Chapter X I I I
that
on H o u r s .
t h e men o u g h t
(unless
they
reduction
freely
in wages)
that
This
faith
is
their
point
not
neither
this
of
only
o f whom
it.
On
sort
of labour w i l l
leases.
is arrived
of
no
that
a l l i t s mining
but t h a t
that
many
imposes
choose t h a t
'.
system
than
Prom t h i s
The c o n c l u s i o n
:
be
owner,
not t o have
o u g h t t o be c o n s i d e r e d
on t h e
importance,
I t may b e m e n t i o n e d
as m i n e r a l
sort
period,
u n d e r any
o f doing
Prance the Government,
of t h i s
by t h e
t o accept
Ministry
they
profits
is suggested,
also
o
by t h e
dividend
profitSc
of the p o l i c y
the
the
inevitable
unrest.
u
employeeso"
that
but p r e s s t h e t w o s i d e s
thing by l e g i s l a t i o n ,
doubt
is
large
should,
find
a stated
on a l a r g e r u n i t
it
make v e r y
allaying
likely to
the wider
to
of the f a c t
profits,
t h e Government
accept
it
its
undertakings
p r o p o r t i o n sh o u l d
impressed
rates
action
colliery
of a l l
t o be issued
determining wages
which
for
profit-sharing
a standard
c a p i t a l . . .**a fixed
of
of the
"We s u g g e s t "
within
that
existing
The
that
compulsory.
schemes p r o v i d i n g
hereafter
requires
i s t h e recommendation
should
generally
to
examination
x
improvement.
say
an e x h a u s t i v e
in
a
at
a l o n g e r w o r k i n g day
alternative
to a
t h e two f o l l o w i n g
points
ffGreater e l a s t i c
f f e i t y i n th e
statutory
S-egulation o f
Kours o
IfSee p .
175) .
fa)
Whether
elastic
loss
t h e law might
in order
of time
its
to prevent
the " q u i t e
and e a r n i n g s "
present
that
i s sometimes
r a t h e r than
always e s s e n t i a l ;
by t h e week
limit
more p r o v i d e d
the
might
is
a total
that
by t h e d a y
whether
or
of 4 2 was n o t e x c e e d e d
even
in
week*
Association
and M i n e r s
one a n o t h e r ;
with
p o i n t s which
to give
may
about
effect
to
discuss
can s a f e l y
t o any
to "Regularity
offer
recommendation
of
of Work",
t h e Government
affecting
the wording
absenteeism.
Government
have
agree.
Chapter X I Y r e l a t i n g
recommendation
the Mining
Federation w i l l
1
but t h e
ask P a r l i a m e n t
on w h i c h t h e y
In
time
n o t be extended t o 8 hours
These a r e o b v i o u s l y
to
caused b y
rigidity.
of working
daily
more
disproportionate
( b ) Whether the d e f i n i t i o n
the
lite m a t i v e of
Mines D e p a r t ­
llant R e t u r n ,
rasee p ^ 183 ) .
n o t h e made r a t h e r
is
a Mines Department
Effect
will
C h a p t e r XV on R e c r u i t i n g
be g i v e n t o
and P e r s o n n e l
the
only
a m i n o r one
Return
of
this.
makes t w o
r e commend a t i o n s :
[ransfer o f
pemployed
ainers
?ee p p . 1 8 8 - 9 )
(a)
T h a t mine o w n e r s
o r by d i s t r i c t s ,
end m i n e r s ,
should
labour
either
consider
Ministry
of
practical
transfer
of unemployed miners
nationally
i n con j u n c t i on w i t h t h e
steps
f o r securing
the
from
one d i s t r i c t
to
anoth e r .
The M i n i s t r y
to
do t h e i r
ation
Ewtuifi eat ions
t h Mine
jfenagers
Ilsee
p;
190)
part
of labour w i l l
In t h i s .
A somewhat
be
willing
similar
r e common d ­
I s made i n C h a p t e r X X L
(b)
That t h e Mines Department
the
regulations
Managers
good
no d o u b t
governing
should
the qualifications
a r e n o t o f such a n a t u r e
general
education
This w i l l
be d e n e .
consider
as t o d e t e r
from e n t e r i n g
the
whether
of
mine
men o f
industry.
Chapter -XVI d e a l s w i t h S a f e t y end H e a l t h and
contains
no r e c ommend a t i o u s .
Chapter X V I I on Housing, makes no s p e c i f i c
t i o n s r e q u i r i n g Government
Chapter X V I I I on W e l f a r e
(a)
Royalties to
contribute t o
the W e l f a r e
Fund
^
(see p . 2 0 9 )
action.
recommends:
That r o y a l t i e s should c o n t r i b u t e t o
Fund to the e x t e n t
'
redommenda­
the W e l f a r e
o f 5fi ( r o u g h l y ^ 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 a
'
year);
pithead baths
to be compulsory.
(see p p . 2 0 4 - 2 0 8 )
(b)
t h a t p i t h e a d baths should be made
.
generally
compulsory.
(o)
that
Welfare
the cost o f
this
should be met from the
Fund.
The proj..osed c o n t r i b u t i o n c f
t o the W e l f a r e Fund i s
d e a l t with
on N a t i o n a l i s a t i o n o f R o y a l t i e s .
the r o y a l t y
in t h e memorandum ( H o . 2 )
As t o t h e
proposal
t h a t p i t h e a d baths s h o u l d be made compulsory,
p e o p l e would deny that t h i s
long a g o .
should be found from the M i n e r s
w e l l be the s u b j e c t
expressed
of
few
ought t o have been done
But the p r o p o s a l that
i n s t e a d o f by the c o l l i e r y
owners
1
owners
criticism.
the money f o r
W e l f a r e Fund,
t h e m s e l v e s , may
This view was
to the Commission by the Department
the f o l l o w i n g n o t e , p r i v a t e l y
this
in
communicated to them.
" S u r e l y modern o p i n i o n r e c o g n i s e s g e n e r a l l y
t h a t an employer of labour i n a p r o c e s s t h a t i s
bound t o make t h e workmen f i l t h y i s - under a
moral o b l i g a t i o n t o p r o v i d e f a c i l i t i e s t o them
t o make t h e m s e l v e s c l e a n a g a i n b e f o r e t h e y
leave bis premises,
T h i s has long been r e c o g n i s e d
in - f o r e i g n countries;
why should"we s e t any
l o w e r standard . f o r o u r s e l v e s ?
IT t h i s i s the
r i g h t way t o l o o k at i t , what j u s t i f i c a t i o n can
t h e r e be f o r t r e a t i n g p i t h e a d baths i n any d i f f e r e n t
way from any o t h e r e s s e n t i a l part of t h e equipment
S u r e l y the f a c t ' t h a t the o b l i g a t i o n
. of a c o l l i e r y ;
has been so long d i s r e g a r d e d , and t h e c o l l i e r y
owners have so l o n g had the enjoyment o f t h e
c a p i t a l that ought t o have been l o c k e d up, r e i n f o r c e s
rai. her than weakens the argument.
The o n l y r e a s o n g i v e n i n the d r a f t i s " t h e
p r e s e n t e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n o f the i n d u s t r y " .
I s t h i s r e a l l y any r e a s o n -at a l l ? I I o - o n e has
e v e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t a l a w s h o u l d a t any t i m e he
p a s s e d r e q u i r i n g b a t h s t o be , e r o c t a d e v e r y w h e r e ,
instantly.
The n a t u r a l t h i n g t o do w o u l d be t o
r e q u i r e t h e owners t o e r e c t them w i t h i n a c e r t a i n
p e r i o d - say f i v e y e a r s , o r e v e n l o n g e r .
The
s t a t e of t h e i n d u s t r y a t t h e t i m e o f the p a s s i n g
of t h e A c t i s i m m a t e r i a l .
L u r i n g the p e r i o d
p r e s c r i b e d the i n d u s t r y w i l l h a v e had i t s n o r m a l
ups and d o w n s ;
a n d c o l l i a r i e s must t a k e t h e
o p p o r t u n i t y o f t h e f i r s t " u p " to l a y by money
f o r tho purpose-.
I n t h e t h r e e y e a r s 19 2 E - 3 - 4
( o n e bad y e a r , one g o o d and ono f a i r ) t h e p r o f i t s
,of t h e i n d u n t r y ( a f t e r s e t t i n g o f f l o s s e s ) w e r e
about £50 ,000 ,-000 .
To h a v e h a d t o f i n d f o u r o r
f i v e m i l l i o n s e v e n i n t h i s s h o r t p e r i o d would n o t
have h u r t the i n d u s t r y .
1
The p r o p o s a l t h a t t h e L o y a l t y Owne r s h o u l d
be c a l l e d upon t o b e a r p a r t o f L t h e o o s t seems
t o be o p e n t o t h e same c r i t i c i s m .
v/ould i t n o t
bo d i f f i c u l t t o p e r s u a d o P a r l i a m e n t t h a t i t was
r i g h t t o c o n f i s c a t e p a r t o f t h e income o f s v a r y
l a r g e ^number o f I n d i v i d u a l s (many o f them/modest
means) i n o r d e r to r e l i e v e c o l l i e r y owners o f p a r t
o f an o b l i g a t i o n t h a t t h e y o u g h t t o h a v e d i s c h a r g e d
y e a r s ago ?"
f
It
und. r s t o o d
found
it
could
not reconcile
heavy
new c h a r g e
of
tatutory P i t
Committee­
see p p . 2 1 3 ­
816) .
is
its
impossible
present
t h a t the
to a c c e p t
on the
-parlous
industry
with
of
measure,
joint
as
hierarchy
provided
might
is well
from
that
the
be g i v e n t o
Mining A s s o c i a t i o n
of
to set
Part
II
failed
of
the
In
lapsed,
to
impose
workers"
Industry
the
Act,
"national
first
of
the
refused
in accordance
this
description
deals
to
This
themselves
Board"
of
and
mandatory
higher
and the
should
statutory
regular
take
with
chiefly
1920.
instance,
Committees,
that
they
this
up a s y s t e m o f
cecision
the
that
their
circumstances
later,
to a v a i l
to
Commission
condition.
the
set
the
was
o w n e r s and men I n a
pit
up t h e s e
Act which provided
side
known,
in certain
Miners f e d e r a t i o n
steps
of
the M i n i n g
committees
view
with
economic
"Association
II
this
a recommendation
Chapter XIX,
Part
r e a s o n why
and
bodies.
the
the
necessary
provisions
a section
happen i f
them.
force
The
of
the
either
Miners
The
Federation,
in
pressed for
the
evidence before
revival
do n o t recommend t h i s
the
district
voluntary
that
the
should
in
its
II.
The
entirety
and n a t i o n s , ! m a c h i n e r y
statutory
be r e v i v e d .
following
of Part
committees meet t h e
objection,
the Commission,
obligation to
out
to
is
the
that
for
existing
but do
set
This p r o p o s a l
a s was p o i n t e d
note
case)
Commission
(holding
the
strongly
up p i t
open
recommend
committees
to
serious
Commission i n
the
:
" I n the e a r l i e r p a r t o f t h i s c h a p t e r t h e p o i n t i s
made w i t h much f o r c e t h a t i t i s f a r b e t t e r t o l e a v e
t h e s e m a t t e r s t o v o l u n t a r y a c t i o n than t o "the
c o m p u l s i o n o f an A c t o f P a r l i a m e n t and t h e r i g i d i t y
of d e p a r t m e n t a l r e g u l a t i o n s " .
I t i s p o i n t e d out that
a c o n s i d e r a b l e amount o f m a c h i n e r y o f t h i s s o r t has
b e e n t h e " s p o n t a n e o u s c r o a t i o n o f the i n d u s t r y i t s e l f " ;
but t h a t t h e m a c h i n e r y has n o t e x t e n d e d t o t h e p i t a .
The c o n c l u s i o n i s t h e r e f o r e r e g r e t f u l l y r e a c h e d t h a t
c o m p u l s i o n must be a p p l i e d t o t h e p i t .
Ought n o t t h e c o n c l u s i o n r a t h e r t o b e t h a t , s i n c e
c o m p u l s i o n by A c t o f P a r l i a m e n t and d e p a r t m e n t a l
regulations i s in practice f u t i l e i f not mischievous,
t h e r e i s n o t h i n g f o r i t but m e r e l y t o e x h o r t t h e
i n d u s t r y t o e x t e n d the machinery downwards.
Bven
If
an A c t o f P a r l i a m e n t c o u l d t a k e t h e h o r s e t o t h e w a t e r
( w h i c h may w e l l bo q u e s t i o n e d ) i t seems h a r d l y p o s s i b l e
t h a t i t c o u l d make i t d r i n k .
Prom t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
p o i n t o f v i e w the j o b o f n a t i o n a l i s i n g r o y a l t i e s i s f a r
l e s s f o r m i d a b l e than t h e j o b o f c o m p e l l i n g managers t o
s e t up C o m m i t t e e s .
The p r o s p e c t o f the £ a p a r t m e n t
b e i n g c o n s t a n t l y d r a g g e d i n t o s q u a b b l e s on t h i s s u b j e c t
w i t h no r e a l p o w e r s b e h i n d them e x c e p t t h e a b s u r d one
o f p r o s e c u t i n g a manager, i s r e a l l y alarmingo
hor would
e v e n t h a t remedy g e n e r a l l y be o p e n , f o r n o t h i n g w o u l d be
e a s i e r t h a n t o o b s e r v e t h e f o r m o f A c t and R e g u l a t i o n s
but t o make them n u g a t o r y by d i s r e g a r d i n g t h e i r s p i r i t .
Porm here, i s n o t h i n g ;
spirit is everything.
To say
t h i s i s n o t I n t h e l e a s t t o q u e s t i o n the t r u t h o f a l l
t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n s a y about t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y o f p i t
committees.
The p r o f e s s e d f e a r s o f o w n e r s and m a n a g e r s
are absurd;
p r o p e r l y r u n , t h e c o m m i t t e e s can do n o t h i n g
but g o o d .
But must we n o t be on our g u a r d a g a i n s t
making t h e m i s t a k e t h a t A m e r i c a h a s made o f i m a g i n i n g
t h e l e g i s l a t u r e t o be o m n i p o t e n t ?
May i t n o t b e
t h a t a m a t t e r such as t h i s , i n w h i c h the v i t a l p o i n t
i s n o t t h e e x i s t e n c e of a m a c h i n e but t h e s p i r i t i n
w h i c h i t i s w o r k e d , i s one I n w h i c h t h e l e g i s l a t u r e
ought t o r e c o g n i s e I t s i m p o t e n c e ? "
Ths' C o m m i s s i o n w e r e no doubt
difficulty
of
i m p r e s s e d by
t a k i n g t h i s v i e w about
already
been
placed
on t h e
Statute
revival
of which the miners e v i d e n t l y
a measure
Book and
set
the
which
on t h e
such
great
had
o
Hi
import
axLCO.
Chapter XX,dealing
with P r o f i t s ,
makes no
recommenda­
tions.
Chapter XXI
meeting
of
the
contains
present
a different
kind from
be
memorandum ( B o . 3 ) .
it
makes
contained
occasion
the
in
Its
arise
Government
measures f o r
displaced
should
this
that
provide
those
only
requires
concluding
the
s h o u l d be
or f o r
This
dealt
the s u b j e c t
The
after
the
Commissions
situation.
memorandum and w i l l
that
the
with
of
a
definite
words
ready
to
in
is
" should
of
the
the
all
Subsidy
practicable
that
transfer,
as m i g h t be
this
action
o f any l a b o u r
its
questions
recommendation
that
take
for
separate
departmental
facilitating
such f u n d s
raises
discontinuance
assistance
proposals
may be
and
required
for
purp o s e . "
This
ia
a matter
primarily
for
G* lu
M i n e s he pa r t m an t .
March 10 th.,
19 £5 .
the M i n i s t r y
LalE-FOX.
of
labour.