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DOCUMENT I S THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GO VERNMBfl2)80
COPY NO:
RET.
251 ( 2 6 ) ,
C A B I N E T ,
REPORT OF THE COAL COMMISSION.
P o s i t i o n i n r e g a r d t o t h e v a r i o u s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s of t h e
R oy a l C" ommi 3 s i on on vi h i c h Go v e r ran e n t a c t i o n i s r e q u i r e d
or ho s "been" p r o m i s e d , TS"e"e C a b i n e t 4 1 ( 2 6 ) , C o n c l u s i o n ' ( o ) ) .
Memorandum b y t h e S e c r e t a r y
Note:
The r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s
order in which they
CHAPTER I I I
1,
-
for
Mines,
s e t out below a r e i n t h e
appear i n the Reports
UTILISATION OF COAL.
THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SYMPA THE TIC CONSIDERATION
TO ANY PROPOSALS OF THE FUEL RESEARCH BOARD FOR THE FURTHER
INVESTIGATION OF PROCESSES OF LOW TEMPERATURE CARBONISATION
ON A COMMERCIAL SCALE.
2c
THAT AN ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE MADE BY GOVERNMENT THAT
I F AND WHEN THE FUEL RESEARCH BOARD I S ABLE TO REPORT THAT A
SMOKELESS SEMI-COKE I S AVAILABLE AS SUITABLE AS RAW COAL '
THE DEPARTMENTS WHICH ARE LARGE USERS OF COAL SHOULD BE
INSTRUCTED TO PURCHASE THE SEMI-COKE IN PREFERENCE,
3c
THAT A NATIONAL FUEL AND POWER COMMITTEE SHOULD BE
FORMED FOR THE PURPOSE OF A CONTINUOUS AND COMPREHENSIVE
SURVEY OF THE HEAT, LIGHT AND POWER REQUIREMENTS OF THE
COUNTRY,
These t h r e e recommendations
consideration
Chairmanship
reported
to a l l
to
of
t h e Commit t e e
the Minister
in April
of t h e m ,
by t h e C a b i n e t
taking action
their
of
report
( C . P . 141 ( 2 6 ) ) .
for
of. C i v i l R e s e a r c h u n d e r
substantially
but
were r e f e r r e d
Labour.
The
in favour
of g i v i n g
has not yet
Committee
been
effect
considered
The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
on t h e s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s ,
the
when a p p r o v e d ,
for
rests
p r i m a r i l y w i t h t h e D e p a r t m e n t of S c i e n t i f i c and. I n d u s t r i a l Research
( N o s . 1 & 2 ) a n d w i t h t h e C o m m i t t e e of C i v i l R e s e a r c h ( N o . ? ) .
CHAPTER IV - RE SEARCH
4 , THAT THE) RlilSEARCH ORGANISATION OE THS COLLIERY OWNERS
SHOULD HE EXPANiMD WITH INCREASE!) FUNDS PROVIDED PARTLY
BY THE OWNERS AND PARTLY BY TIE DEPARTMENT OE SCIENTIFIC
AND INDUSTRIAL RE SEARCH,
5 . THAT THE WORK OF THE FUEL RESEARCH DIVISION OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SHOULD
B l PRESSED FORWARD AND PROVIDED WITH AMPLE FUNDS ,
6 . THAT TEE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING THE VARIOUS
BRANCHES OF RESEARCH WORK,
These recommendations are
of t h e C o m m i t t e e o f
also
dealt w i t h i n the
C i v i l R e s e a r c h and h e r e a l s o
a c t i o n r e s t s w i t h the Department
of S c i e n t i f i c
Report
administrative
and
Industrial
Research,
CHAPTER V
n
- STRUCTURE OF THE INDUSTRY
7,a THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE PASSED TO FACILITATE
DESIRABLE AMALGAMATIONS .
This i s
d e a l t w i t h i n the Mining Industry
Bill.
8 . THAT LEGISLATION SHOULD BE PASSED GIVING THE MINES
DEPARTMENT POWER "AFTER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS TO
IMPOSE COMPULSORY AMALGAMATIONS.
The P r i m e . M i n i s t e r
announced i n h i s
1 5 t h June t h a t t h i s w o u l d he d o n e ,
hut i t
s p e e c h on t h e
was
subsequently
d e c i d e d t o o m i t t h i s p r o v i s i o n from t h e B i l l .
i t merely r e q u i r e s
Parliament
t h e Mines Department
at t h e end of t h r e e
CHAPTER VII
As
introduced
t o make a R e p o r t
years,
ROYALTIES.
9 . THAT COAL ROYALTIES SHOULD BE ACQUIRED BY THE STATE.
I t i s not proposed to proceed w i t h t h i s
( s e e CabinsS. 4 1 ( 2 6 )
Conclusion
(g).
at
present
to
CHAPTER V I I I
10..
- DISTRIBUTION
THAT LOCAL AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO
TRADE IK COAL.
The f o r m of l e g i s l a t i o n
p u r p o s e was r e f e r r e d
reported before
This Report
Committee
is
the
to- a C a b i n e t
e n d of A p r i l
on T h u r s d a y ,
legislation
Bill
11,
Sub-Committee
of
State
the Parliamentary Draftsman
of
the
.
Coal
The S e c r e t a r y
to
Sub-Committee's
the question being
considered
should be i n s e r t e d i n t h e Mining
at Committee
who
( A p p e n d i x t o . C . F . 1 2 2 (26))
June 24th,
on t h e l i n e s
Report w i t h a view to
whether i t
this
t o b e c o n s i d e r e d by t h e C a b i n e t
f o r War h a s i n s t r u c t e d
draft
t o he a d o p t e d f o r
Industry
stage,
THAT "COLLIERIES WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO ESTABLISH
C 0 - ORE RAT I YE SELLING ASSOCIATIONS",
The G o v e r n m e n t h a v e u n d e r t a k e n
on t h i s
subject.
of r e f e r e n c e
desirable
will
that
Proposals
be s u b m i t t e d i n
further
with representatives
12,
as to
to
s e t up a
personnel
due
consultation
Committee
and
course,
but
should take
of t h e I n d u s t r y b e f o r e
terms
it
is
place
this
is
done,
THAT THE QUESTION SHOtlLU BE EXPLORED OF ESTABLISHING
AN OFFICIAL SYSTEM FOR THE SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS OF COAL.
Before
anything
and d i f f i c u l t
can be done i n t h i s
d i s c u s s i o n w i t h o u r own t r a d e r s
i m p o r t e r s w i l l be n e c e s s a r y
usefully
direction,
be i n i t i a t e d
at
and clearly
this
and
long
foreign
cannot
present,
CHAPTER IX - CONVEYANCE OF COAL.
13,
THAT A JOINT COMMITTEE' O F T E E MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
AND THE MINES
LEPARIMJLNT
SHOULD
BE
APPOINTED IN ORDER TO
DO WHAT I S POSSIBLE TO EFFECT A GREATER MEASURE OF
STANDARDISATION OF WAGONS;
AN INCREASED PROVISION OF
WAGONS OF LARGER CAPACITY, AND AN EXTENSION OF THE
PRINCIPLE OF COMMON USER.
T h i 3 h a s b e e n d i s c u s s e d b e t w e e n t h e M i n i s t r y of T r a n s p o r t
3 v
and the Mines Department,
will
shortly
and the M i n i s t e r
submit d e f i n i t e
of
Transport
proposals.
CHAPTER X I I : - WAGES
14.
TEAT PROF I T - SHARING SCHEMES SHOULD BE MADE
COMPULSORY AT ALL COLLIERIES.
It
this
is
obviously
impossible
recommendation u n t i l the
a g r e e m e n t upon i t .
t o have one.
appoint
to
15.
facilitate
the
reached
of
in
establishment
that
desires
the p r o f i t - s h a r i n g
the question
is hardly practicable
is
to
The G o v e r n m e n t h a v e a l s o u n d e r t a k e n
a Committee t o examine
stoppage
effect
o w n e r s a n d men h a v e
scheme a t any c o l l i e r y
of t h e C o m m i s s i o n a n d a l s o
But i t
full
But a Clause has been i n s e r t e d
the Mining I n d u s t r y B i l l
of a p r o f i t - s h a r i n g
to give
to
proposals
family
allowances.
to proceed with t h i s
until
the,
over.
TEAT "THERE M A Y BE AN ADVANTAGE IE THE TWO PARTIES
AGREE IN HAVING A NATIONAL WAGES BOARD WHICH SHALL BRING
IN ALSO IMPARTIAL ELEMENTS OUTSIDE THE COAL INDUSTRY
ITSELIP."
In view
of t h e s t r o n g d i s s e n t
Government have d e c i d e d n o t
of t h e p a r t i e s ,
to proceed with this
the
at
present.
CHAPTER X I I I - HOURS
16.
THAT GREATER ELASTICITY SHOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO
THE LAW GOVERNING THE HOURS 03? WORK UNDERGROUND.
This q u e s t i o n has been merged I n the
-of t h e l e n g t h
of t h e w o r k i n g
larger
question
day.
CHAPTER XV - RECRUITING AND PERSONNEL
17.
THAT THE MIKE0WN3RS AND MINERS SHOULD CONFER TOGETHER
WITH A VIEW TO CONSIDERING,
IN CONJUNCTION WITH TILE
MINISTRY OP LABOUR, PRACTICABLE STEPS FOR' SECURING THE
TRANSFER O F UNEMPLOYED MINERS FROM ONE DISTRICT T O
ANOTHER AND FOR GIVING SUCH MINERS THE FIRST CHANCE
O F OBTAINING SUCH COLLIERY EMPLOYMENT IN PREFERENCE
TO T H E RECRUITING OF OUTSIDE LABOUR,
The M i n i n g I n d u s t r y B i l l
gives
Labour power t o make r e g u l a t i o n s
1 8 ^ THAT THE
MIjJES
the M i n i s t e r
on t h i s
of
subject.
DEPARTMENT SHOULD CONSIDER THE
REGULATIONS GOVERNING T H E QUALIFICATIONS O F MINE
MANAGERS.
T h i s h a s a l r e a d y b e e n t a k e n up w i t h
t h e Board
M i n i n g E x a m i n a t i o n s who a r e a r r a n g i n g c o n f e r e n c e s
the
educational authorities
for
with
concerned.
CHAPTER XVII - HOUSING.
19,
THAT THE STATE AS ROYAL'"Y OWNER SHOULD ENSURE THAT
-ADEQUATE PROVISION WILL BE MADE FOR THE HOUSING O F
THE V/ORZERS.
The Government h a v e u n d e r t a k e n t o
on H o u s i n g i n c o l l i e r y
on t h i s
rests
districts.
set
up a
Committee
Administrative
primarily with the Ministry of
action
Health.
CHAPTER X V I I I - WELFAREo
BO. THAT ROYALTIES SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE WELFARE FUND
AND THAT PITHEAD BATHS FINANCED OUT O F THE WELFARE
FUND SHOULD BE MADE GENERALLY COi.IPULSORI.LY.
Part
to this
III
of the Mining Industry B i l l
gives
effeot
recommendation.
CHAPTER XIX - ASSOCIATION O F THE WORKERS­
2 1 ' THAT P I T COMMITTEES SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY BY THE
REVIVAL O F THE APPROPRIATE PORTIONS OF PART I I O F THE
MINING INDUSTRY ACT,
1920.
The Government h a v e n e v e r
legislation
on t h i s
subject.-
committed t h e m s e l v e s
A l l t h e y have
to
undertaken
t o do i s
pit
"to prepare
Committees".
they are
a scheme f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
The mi.neov.mers h a v e
willing
t o sec
if
for the g e n e r a l p r o v i s i o n
voluntary bssis,
that
no a c t i o n
arrangement8' cannot
of p i t
and iu t h e s e
sides
committees
circumstances
of t h e
of
that
h e made
on a
it
c a n be t a k e n b y t h e . G o v e r n m e n t
t h e r e h a s b e a u an o p p o r t u n i t y
with both
indicated
of
is
clear
until
discussing the
matter
Industry.
CHAPTER XXI - THE PRESENT SITUATION.
2 2 . THAT THE GOV313HLEENT SHOULD BE READY TO TAKE ALL
PRACTICABLE MEASURES FOR THE ASSISTANCE OP ANY
LABOUR THAT MAY BE DISPLACED OR FOR FACILITATING
I T S TR'. ;SFER AND TO xROYIDE SUCH FUNDS AS MIGHT
BE R "QUIRED FOR THOSE PURPOSES.
This
is
matter
-
for
the-Ministry
of L a b o u r .
s i t u a t i o n w i l l p r e s u m a b l y h a v e t o b e met a s
it
G.R..Tj"S
Mines
Department.
June.22nd,
192 6 .
l
a
The
arises.,,