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Catalogue Reference:CAB/24/198
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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT.,,
SECRET *
COPY NO.
.P. 327(28)
C A B I N E T .
REPORT ON COAL AMALGAMATIONS.
Note BY t h e P r e s i d e n t OF t h e Board OF T r a d e .
I o i r o u l a t o f o r t h e i n f o r m a t i o n of my o o l l e a g t e s t h e
r e p o r t which w i l l be p r e s e n t e d , under S e c t i o n 12 of
Mining I n d u s t r y A c t , 1 9 2 6 , Immediately t h e House
assembles.
P.C-L.
BOARD OP TRADE,
l e t November, 1 9 2 8 .
the
Report under Section 12
of the Miring Industry Act, 1926.
Sections 1-12. (forming Part I.) of the Mining Industry
Act, 1926, make certain provisions for facilitating the
amalgamation of coalmining undertakings;
and Section 12 provides
that "at the expiration of two years from the passing of this
Act the Board of Trade shall make a report to Parliament upon
the operation of this Part of this Act, including information as
to the extent to which amalgamations and absorptions have taken
place among undertakings to which this Part of this Act applies
and all such other information and statistics relevant thereto
as they may think fit
These sections of the Act were founded upon the Report of
the Royal Commission on the Coal Industry, 1925, and were designed,
so far as statutory enactment was required, to give effect to the
views which were expressed therein on the need for a greater
degree of integration or co-operation in the coal industry of
this country..
The view which the Royal Commission expressed
was that measures of this kind were desirable both in the
production and in the selling and in the distribution of coal;
that they might take a variety of forms;
that for the present
at any rate, it should be left to the industry itself to take
the initiative;
that as a general rule, it would be desirable,
if not essential, that all the undertakings affected should be
willing parties to the integration or co-operetion to be brought
about;
but that in certain cases (and particularly in schemes
for the acquisition of one undertaking by another) it might be
both necessary and desirable to apply compulsion.
Part I. of the Mining Industry Act is designed to
facilitate voluntary amalgamations in cases where the parties
consider that an order of the Court and the relief from stamp
duties which the Act affords are in fact of advantage to them.
It is designed also to meet cases in which complete amalgamate,on
cannot "be achieved without compulsion being brought to bear
upon one or more of its proposed constituents.
Obviously, however, it is not necessary that every measure
or every form of integration or co-operation between colliery
undertakings which takes place shall take advantage of the
Mining Industry Act;
and it is indeed a fact that of the
measures of this kind which have been initiated during the
last two years, only a small proportion have had to be brought
before the Railway and Canal Commission.
The existence of the
compulsory provisions of the Act has no doubt been a factor in
some cases in bringing about voluntary amalgamations without
the necessity of their being actually invoked.
In other cases,
the provisions of the Finance Acts, 1927 and 1928, granting
relief from stamp duties on the amalgamation of existing
companies, though they are less wide than those of the MiningIndustry Act, may have been sufficient to make it unnecessary
to utilise the latter Act.
But, however this may be, it is
clear that, In order to examine the full extent of the -integra­
tion or co-operation which has.come about since the Act was
passed, it is necessary to consider not only the developments
which have been sanctioned under the Mining Industry Act but
also the far larger
number which have taken place without
resort to it.
In doing so, moreover, it is necessary to examine the
subject in its broadest aspect, and. to include in one ' s purview
not only complete amalgamations of one undertaking with another
but every kind of step which has tended in any way to reduce
the previous degree of "individualism
11
on the part of colliery
companies, whether in the actual ownership or control of under­
takings in all respects or in the provision of certain specific
services, and whether relating to production or to marketing or
to distribution.
I t i s n o t any p u r p o s e of t h i s R e p o r t t o weigh t h e
r e l a t i v e m e r i t s of one form of " a m a l g a m a t i o n " a g a i n s t
those
of a n o t h e r ,
would
and i n t h e p r e s e n t s t a t e of e x p e r i e n c e i t
be d i f f i c u l t j
i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e t o do s o .
C o - o p e r a t i o n may
c o n s i s t e i t h e r i n c o m p l e t e a m a l g a m a t i o n of o w n e r s h i p , or i n
schemes r e l a t i n g t o such m a t t e r s as p o w e r - s u p p l y o r d r a i n a g e ,
on t h e p r o d u c t i v e s i d e , o r - on t h e s e l l i n g s i d e - methods of
m a r k e t i n g , d e v e l o p m e n t of m a r k e t s , p r i c e - q u o t a t i o n
r e g u l a t i o n of
or
competition.
I f t h e s u r v e y i s t o be c o m p l e t e , i t
should
take
a c c o u n t e v e n of s u c h m a t t e r s f o r example as t h e d e g r e e
to
which c o l l i e r y u n d e r t a k i n g s do i n f a c t draw t h e i r power
from a common s o u r c e , or d i s p o s e of t h e i r c o a l t h r o u g h a
common d i s t r i b u t o r .
For t h o u g h t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s i n e a c h
c a s e may be' b e t w e e n e a c h s e p a r a t e c o l l i e r y and t h e power
company o r t h e s a l e s o r g a n i s a t i o n r a t h e r t h a n b e t w e e n t h e
collieries
themselves the e f f e c t
of t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s as a
whole I s t o r e d u c e t h e d e g r e e of i n d i v i d u a l i s m of e a c h of
the
collieries,
The form of a m a l g a m a t i o n which t h e iv.in.ing
I n d u s t r y Act was p r i m a r i l y d e s i g n e d t o f a c i l i t a t e
was t h e
u n i f i c a t i o n of t h e a c t u a l o w n e r s h i p or c o n t r o l of two o r
more u n d e r t a k i n g s .
P a r t i c u l a r s of a m a l g a m a t i o n s i n t h i s
which a r e known t o have b e e n e f f e c t e d
t h e Act a r e g i v e n b e l o w ,
s i n c e t h e p a s s i n g of
They c o v e r dr5&
e m p l o y i n g a b o u t 1£t£,.1 IfcSg.' w o r k p e o p l e ,
pits,
a m a l g a m a t i o n of t h e S o u t h Wales A n t h r a c i t e
provisional.
normally
and c o m p r i s e 17
s e p a r a t e s c h e m e s , s u b s e q u e n t l y r e d u c e d t o 14
x
category
by t h e
groups,.
further
1 QQ
JL Q
The l a r g e s t g r o u p , j u d g e d by t h e number of
men n o r m a l l y e m p l o y e d , i s t h e P o w e l l D u f f r y n
group.
T h i s now c o m p r i s e s 3G p i t s n o r m a l l y e m p l o y i n g 2 5 , 0 0 0
workpeople .
The Liickloy and—Oowpon ' g r o u p now c o n t r o l s
p i t s wAth a n o r m a l t o t a l of 8 0 , 0 0 0 ^ workp oopl-er;
The S o u t h Wales A n t h r a c i t e combine now c o v e r s a b o u t 60
p i t s , n o r m a l l y employing about 17,000 workpeople;
the
C a r I t o n Main company c o n t r o l s 6 p i t s w i t h a n o r m a l
complement of a b o u t 1 5 , 0 0 0 w o r k p e o p l e ;
t h e Ocean Coal
Company g r o u p h a s 7 p i t s , n o r m a l l y e m p l o y i n g about
1 4 , 0 0 0 w o r k p e o p l e ; . and t h e Y o r k s h i r e
Collieries
Amalgamated
5 p i t s w i t h n o r m a l employment f o r
about
13,000 workpeople,
O t h e r schemes a r e now u n d e r n e g o t i a t i o n ,
but
e x c e p t i n one I n s t a n c e t h e y h a v e n o t y e t r e a c h e d a
s t a g e t o e n a b l e them t o be m e n t i o n e d i n t h i s
Report.
The e x c e p t i o n i s an i m p o r t a n t a m a l g a m a t i o n of 5 or 6
c o l l i e r y companies i n L a n c a s h i r e , c o m p r i s i n g 20 or
more p i t s n o r m a l l y e m p l o y i n g 1 6 , 0 0 0 t o 2 0 , 0 0 0 work­
people,
T h i s scheme h a s a l r e a d y b e e n a g r e e d and o n l y
awaits formal completion.
F u r t h e r d e t a i l s of i t
Included in the p a r t i c u l a r s given below.
are
iJ
GOWIRmp
SOHEXES
r
BY .JHIB
RAILWAY
A)
U n d e r t a k i n g s amalgamated, and
d i s t r i e ts
lenaby and Cadeby Main C o l l i e r i e s L t d
linnington Main Coal G o , , L t d
^ossington l i a i n C o l l i e r y C o , , Ltd..
filtby Main C o l l i e r y Co.) Ltd..
(So Yorks . )
Y o r k s h i r e Ama .1
c
Sheffield Coal C o , , L t d ,
Iton Coal Co , L t d .
eighton Ovens L t d .
Anthracite Colls Ltd.
Anthracite Colls. Ltd.
I
B
Inalgamated
hited
c
Sheffield
Coal C o , ,
Q
Ltd,
(S c Y o r k s . )
( S o u t h Wales )
SCHEMES
jpeke and C o , , (Newland) Ltd,.
I c t o r i a Coal and Coke C o . , L t d .
ra-ry t e d
EOT
Amalgamated A n t h r a c i t e C(
-SUBMITTED
TO
Locke and C o , ,
(West Y o r k s . )
THE
RAILW:
(Hewland)!
and
The V i c t o r i a Coal an I Co.J
Irlton Main C o l l y C o , ,
Ipdroyd ^ o a l Go,, L t d .
Ltd.
i t f i e l d Main C o l l y , C o . ,
[ay Ma i n C o l l s , Ltd,
(3.
Ltd,
Carlton Collieries
Yorks,)
£ssocl
(N. Wales;-j
i
(Notts,)
(S. Yorks.)
Jherwood Colly,, C o , , L t d ,
ivcton P a r k Coal Co
Ltd,
erry Greaves and C o , , L t d ,
lnor Haigh iloor Coal C o , , Ltd..
jlriby Grange C e l l s , L t d ,
Sherwood G o l l y . C o . ,
Ltdj
T e r r y G r e a v e s and L i s t e r
(W. Y o r k s . )
lewton Chambers a n d C o . , L t d ,
By land S i l k s t o n e - C o a l & Coke
jCo,, L t d ,
Newton Chambers a n d C o . ,
(S.
Yorks.)
ir-1 P i t z w i l l i a m s C o l l s , Ltd.,
Ilrnace H i l l and Renishaw P a r k Colls,(S. Y o r k s , )
Earl Pitzwilliams
I I I If a cc iMerthyr Dare C o l l s .
me C^imaraan Coal C o . , L t d
B w l l f a and Cwmaman C o l l s
(1891) L t d ,
(Sr W a l e s )
"Welsh A n t h r a c i t e
lsh Anthracite C o l l s , Ltd,
hburnham C o l l s . L t d .
Ifercrave C o l l s . Co.
Italyfera C o l l , C o . , L t d .
^i.wynllafrod A n t h r a c i t e Co,
p w Varteg C o l l , C o , , L t d .
graunclawdd A b e r c r a v e Co.
IKLcce C o l l s . L t d .
Colls.
Colls.
I
(3,
y
Ipcean Coal C o . . L t d ,
IBurnyeat Brown & C o , , L t d ,
$United i N a t i o n a l C o l l s , L t d ,
Wal(
Ocean Coal Co,^ Ltd* x
)
(S. W a l e s ) )
)
j o w e l l Duffryn Steam Coal Co.., Ltd..
t t £ i a t V e s t e r A CoJLly. C o . , L t d ,
Lewis i / i e r t h y r C o n s o l i d a t e d C o l l s . L t d , Cardiff C o l l s , L t d . \
p a f f Rhondda N a v i g a t i o n Steam Coal
Co., L t d .
\
( 3 . iales )
P o w e l l Duffryn C o l l y . Co
F
^Pwlibach, T i r b a c h & Bryn^mman Anth. Colla." L t d ,
Blaina & Raven A n t h r a . CpVLs L t d .
Cwmllynfell A n t h . C o l l , Ltd.
Garaswllt Anth, C o l l , Ltd.
( 3 . Wales )
^Hendersons Welsh A n t h r a c
u
Cwaun cae Gurwen C o l l y . Co,,\ L t d .
Vale of H e a t h C o l l . C o . , LbflA
Amalgams.ted Anthrac i t e
( 3 . T.ales )
Glenavon Garw " C o l l i e r i e s L t d ,
I n t e r n a t i o n a l Coal C o . , L t d .
G l e n a v o n Garw C o l l i e r i e s
MIckley Coal C o . , L t d .
Acemb Coal Co.,, L t d .
Cowpen Coal G o , , L t d ,
M c k l e y Coal C o . ,
*
A
Ltd.
1
These g r o u p s h a v e
£ H b e e n amalgamated i n t o one c o m p l e t e
A m a l g a m a t e d
Anthrao^
s Ltd.
s l r
C
o
l
l
i
o
r
i
e
unig
JLViAY
I
AMD CANAL
COMMISSION.
No. of
Pits
ig U n d e r t a k i n g
ted C o l l i e r i e s
,
No . of
TOrkers
normally
employed
13,250
3,100
l-^AIL .?^
eri^nd)
Ltd,
23
AIID^ CANAL
1
s
Ltd.
Ltd.
llacite C o l l s .
I
lo-o
9,580
COMISSION
Ltd.
2 , 200
an 1 Coke C o . ,
Ltd,
6
Association
Id..., L t d ,
15,000
5,P50
L i s t e r Kaye L t d ,
1,820
nd C o . ,
Ltd
c
5,400
!olls.
Ltd,
4,110
n Colls,
Colls.
Ltd.
4,860
Ltd.
13
td x
lly.
2,330
14,100
Co., Ltd,
Anthracite Colls.
ite Colls.
.iieries
Ltd.
Ltd,
36
25,100
12
2,830
13
2,600
8
2,730
Ltd.
5,100
Ltd.
160
Total
ete unity.by
the
x
Provisional
119,960
THS FOLLOW
N
IG AMALGAMAO
TIN MAS BSEN
1 Undertakings Amalgamated and
Districts
Bridgewater C o l l s Ltd,,
Mndrew Knowles and ^on3 L t d ,
JClllton and K e r s l e y Coal C o , , L t d .
[ J o h n Spsskman and Sons L t d .
p i e i c h e r Burrows and CoM, L t d . ( L a n c a s h i r e )
0
......
:
-Amalgamating UndertaV
injH
jManchester C o l l s . L t d ,
R'Z?,D
BIJT
iertaVIng
o
Ltd,
H A S
Y3T
NOT
BSEN
F O R M A L L Y
No, of
Pits
j No. of workers
7
4
4
1
3
6. 080
2,990
3,590
850
2.. 350'
19
J. n o r n i a 1 Ij
16,560
C O M P L E T E D .
emp 1 £ , 7 s d
In addition
negotiations are
proceeding for.,
the inclusion in
the group of the
Astley & Tyldealey
Colls , Ltd. j with
3 collieries
employing about
3,050 workers,­
9
A
9
S p e c i a l i n t e r e s t a t t a c h e s t o 1 he S o u t h Wales A n t h r a c i t e
amalgamations a l r e a d y r e f e r r e d t o ,
in t h a t they have
brought about a complete u n i f i c a t i o n
of o w n e r s h i p and
control
of a b o u t SO/o of t h e t o t a l p r o d u c t i o n of t h i s c l a s s of
in t h i s
country.
Of t h e r e m a i n d e r a p o r t i o n i s t o be f o u n d
i n S c o t l a n d , a n d , t h o u g h i n t h i s f i e l d no f u s i o n of
h a s been e f f e c t e d
coal
interests
so c l o s e o r c o m p l e t e i n c h a r a c t e r as i n
S o u t h W a l e s , a r r a n g e m e n t s have b e e n made on t h e
marketing
s i d e f o r a l l t h e e x p o r t s of S c o t t i s h a n t h r a c i t e t o be
out by a s i n g l e o r g a n i s a t i o n .
carried
A n o t h e r i n s t a n c e of a new
c o - o p e r a t i v e scheme f o r s e l l i n g alone i s t h e Rotherham and
District
C o l l i e r i e s A s s o c i a t i o n c o m p r i s i n g M e s s r s . John Brown
and Co, L t d . ,
t h e D a l t o n ^ a i n C o l l i e r i e s L t d . , M e s s r s . S,
Pox & Co. L t d . , The U n i t e d S t e e l Co, L t d . and T i n s l e y
C o l l i e r y Company L t d , owning between them 9 p i t s
e m p l o y i n g 1 7 , 0 0 0 men.
normally
The s a l e s of a l l t h e s e p i t s a r e
centrated in this Association,
ccn­
S i m i l a r l y t h e B a r n s l e y Main
C o l l i e r y Company and t h e Barrow H a e m a t i t e S t e e l
Company,
e m p l o y i n g a t o t a l of n e a r l y 5 , 0 0 0 w o r k p e o p l e , h a v e
t h e i r sales
Park
combined
departments.
A n o t h e r scheme of a. c o - o p e r a t i v e
c h a r a c t e r i s one which
r e l a t e s t o the d r a i n a g e of mines and c o v e r s
and arorind South Y o r k s h i r e , .
It
a large area
in
i s i n t e n d e d t h a t t h e scheme
s h a l l be c a r r i e d out by an Order of t h e S e c r e t a r y f o r Mines
u n d e r S e c t i o n 18 of t h e Mining I n d u s t r y A c t , 1 9 2 0 .
A draft
of t h e Order - e n t i t l e d t h e S o u t h Y o r k s h i r e Mines D r a i n a g e
Order - h a s been p u b l i s h e d ,
and, t h o u g h t h e a g r e e m e n t of
a l l t h e o b j e c t o r s h a s n e t y e t been s e c u r e d ,
a revised
draft
h a s b e e n p r e p a r e d and f o r m a l l y a c c e p t e d by t h e Y o r k s h i r e
C o l l i e r y o w n e r s , and n e g o t i a t i o n s a r e now p r o c e e d i n g which
i t i s h o p e d w i l l e n a b l e t h e Order t o be l a i d
P a r l i a m e n t i n the n e a r f u t u r e *
before
ft *j
6 y a)
Bat of tile'" v a r i o u s m e a s u r e s
by f a r t h e l a r g e s t
future welfare
of
oo--operation
i n s c o p e and i n p o t e n t i a l b e a r i n g upon t h e
of t h e c o a l I n d u s t r y a s a whole a r e t h e
district
a r r a n g e m e n t s which h a v e r e c e n t l y b e e n i n i t i a t e d i n c e r t a i n
a r e a s of t h e c o a l f i e l d s
t o deal with over-production,
c o m p e t i t i o n and p r i c e s and d e v e l o p e x p o r t
The f i r s t
in the B r i t i s h
scheme of t h i s
regulate
markets.
c h a r a c t e r t o be p u t i n t o
operation
c o a l i n d u s t r y was t h a t i n t r o d u c e d by t h e
c o a l owners on t h e 6 t h March,
1923.,
large
Scottish
T h i s scheme p r o v i d e s
for
(a)
A g e n e r a l l e v y n o t e x c e e d i n g 6d* p e r t o n on c o a l s o l d f o r
i n l a n d p u r p o s e s e x c l u d i n g c o a l s o l d t o a n c i l l a r y or
a s s o c i a t e d u n d e r t a k i n g s , and c o a l f o r c o l l i e r y
consumption.
(b)
A s p e c i a l l e v y on c o a l f o r s e l e c t e d c l a s s e s of
and
(c)
The payment of c o m p e n s a t i o n t o c o l l i e r i e s ( o u t of t h e funds
r a i s e d by t h e G e n e r a l and S p e c i a l L e v i e s ) on an a g r e e d
b a s i s i n r e s p e c t of s u s p e n s i o n or c u r t a i l m e n t of
p o t e n t i a l o u t p u t c a p a c i t y a c h i e v e d by w h o l l y c l o s i n g a
c o l l i e r y o r seam o r s e c t i o n of a seam o r by o t h e r m e a n s o
consumers,
The scheme c o v e r s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 9 0 % of t h e S c o t t i s h
The p r i n c i p a l o b j e c t
output.
of t h i s shceme i s t o c o n c e n t r a t e
t h o s e p i t s w h i c h can b e s t a f f o r d t o t r a d e u n d e r c u r r e n t
in
conditions
such p r o d u c t i o n as t h e m a r k e t s a r e a b l e from t i m e t o t i m e
to
absorb *
The s e c o n d scheme was t h a t
c o v e r i n g the Midlands
coalfields
which h a s b e e n i n o p e r a t i o n s i n c e t h e b e g i n n i n g of A p r i l ,
Originally this
scheme was i n t e n d e d t o c o v e r t h e Y o r k s h i r e ,
and Derby c o a l f i e l d s ,
districts,
1928c
b u t i t now e m b r a c e s ,
the d i s t r i c t s
in addition to
of L a n c a s h i r e and C h e s h i r e ,
L e i c e s t e r , North S t a f f o r d s h i r e
and Tffarwi c k s h i r e
Notts,
those
Cannock Chase,
T h i s scheme p r o v i d e s , f o r - a s - f o l l o w s i ­
(a)
A l e v y n o t e x c e e d i n g 3d, p e r t o n on a l l c o a l
(b)
R e g u l a t i o n of o u t p u t a s f o l l o w s ' ­
(i)
(ii)
raised.
A b a s i c t o n n a g e f o r each member i s d e t e r m i n e d ;
in
t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e i t i s t h e o u t p u t i n any y e a r of
t h e 15 y e a r s e n d e d 3.1st December, 1 9 2 7 , s e l e c t e d
by h i m ;
a q u o t a ( o r p e r c e n t a g e ) i s a p p l i e d e a c h month ( i n
a d v a n c e ) to t h e b a s i c t o n n a g e so a r r i v e d a t .
(c)
I f a member e x c e e d s h i s q u o t a I n any month by more t h a n 1%
he i s l i a b l e t o a f i n e Of Z/- a t o n i n r e s p e c t of t h e
e x c e s s t o n n a g e ; and i n t h e c a s e of s y s t e m a t i c e x c e s s e s
h e a v i e r p e n a l t i e s may be a p p l i e d c
(d)
Out of t h e funds r a i s e d by t h e l e v y and by f i n e s ,
f i n a n c i a l a s s i s t a n c e may be g i v e n f o r e x p e r t s and
f o r e i g n b u n k e r s a r r a n g e m e n t s b e i n g made t h a t t h i s
a s s i s t a n c e does n o t o p e r a t e f o r t h e b e n e f i t of i n t e r ­
mediaries.
(e)
The e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a S h i p p i n g Bureau t o w a t c h t h e members'
I n t e r e s t s in the export
markets,
I t i s c l a i m e d t h a t a b o u t 90% of t h e o u t p u t of t h e
t o w h i c h t h e scheme a p p l i e s
i s c o v e r e d by i t ,
an o u t p u t of o v e r 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 0 0 0
;
The o b j e c t
coalfields
and that i t
controls
tons a y e a r c
of t h i s scheme i s t w o - f o l d .
I t proposes to
deal
w i t h o v e r - p r o d u c t i o n f i r s t by e x p a n d i n g t h e Humber e x p o r t m a r k e t
by means o f s u b s i d i s e d e x p o r t p r i c e s ,
the f i n a n c i a l
b e i n g p r o v i d e d by a l e v y on a l l c o a l r a i s e d i n t h e
c o v e r e d by t h e scheme;
means of t h e q u o t a
assistance
coalfields
and s e c o n d by t h e r e g u l a t i o n of o u t p u t by
system.
D i s c u s s i o n s have a l s o b e e n - p r o c e e d i n g in South l a l e s
- r e g a r d t o t h e f o r m a t i o n of a D i s t r i c t Scheme.
The
with
original
proposal provided f o r : ­
(,a) A l e v y of n o t more t h a n 5d* p e r t o n on a l l c o a l r a i s e d
i n South wales.
(b)
Gr-otiping of c o a l s a n d t h e f i x i n g of minimum p r i c e s
each group.
for
(c)
C o m p e n s a t i o n a t t h e r a t e of n o t more t h a n 2 / - p e r t o n
i n r e s p e c t of s h i f t s l o s t t h r o u g h want of t r a d e owing
t o t h e o p e r a t i o n of t h e minimum p r i c e s ,
(d)
P i n e s a t t h e r a t e of 2,/- p e r t o n f o r s a l e s a t
below t h e minimum,
prices
'
The object of the scheme in this coalfield is to increase
proceeds without any definite regulation of output necessarily
closing down pits.
Up to the present the scheme has not been
introduced in its entirety.
The promoters announced at the
beginning of May that for the moment all that would be done
would be to introduce a system of minimum prices in the steami
coal trade on a voluntary
ba.siSc
These minimum prices are
still in force and no other part of the scheme has yet been
put into operation.
4.
In Northumberland and Durham no formal district scheme has
yet been introduced, but agreed minimum prices for export
business have been in force for some time.
In each of these schemes the unit is a defined area.
This in itself constitutes a notable development in the
policy of British Colliery Owners, but the indications are
that it may be only a step towards some scheme of co-operation
on a still wider basis.
It has in fact already been agreed
in principle that the various districts should consult'
together as to ways and means of bringing about co-operation
not only between individual collieries in the same district.,
but also between the districts themselves, and the examination
of this subject Is now proceeding.
L. 35 r,