1919-06-14 — Page 2

Page

THE

HUNGKUNG · DAILY

FREEN, SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH, 1919.

tó

S LECT your

the

the

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MR.

A PLUCKY CHINESE.

· AWARDED THE CROIX DE

GUERRE.

Advice of STATE OWNERSHIP OF MINES. trams or tubes. The Yorkshire coalfield which would certainly: refuse to enter disputed the bad eminence of South such a combination; from industrial SYDNEY WEBB'S SCHEME.

Wales in the number of accidents from users of coal; and from the 10 million During the Coal Industry Commission falls of side or roof; the Scottish coal- domestic consumers. Sach proposal

Sing Kec, a Chinese who is sergeant Mr. Sidney Webb urged the necessity for Saids vied with that of Yorkshire, in being would be so universally unpopular na tu

of the DC8th, has returned to New York the nationalisation of the mines as the the worst for shaft accidents; while the bring down the strongest Government.

to And himself a hero. He entered tha It might be urged that such a capita Army after living six months in New instrument. They know music. Their life only means of adequately improving the Northern coalfield came out best at all.

York and upon getting off the giant position of the miners in regard to point. If all the coalfields of the king-list trust could be put under enqtrol;

but a single monopolist concern, having troopship Leviathan found himself sur- housing, accidents and special diseases dom could be made only as safe as those Its tentacles in every constituency in the rounded by newspaper men who demand- and infantile mortality, of dealing

of Northumberland and Durham, the kingdom, with a million families on its ed that be tell them something of his economically and efficiently with the nation would save annually three or four pay-roll, would be far too pewertul a experiences.

leviathan to be dragged with a look by

No talk about the Chinese said, nation's coal resources, and of ensuring a hundred miners from death, and prob regular and cheap supply of coal. ably thirty to forty thousand from

In his evidence, he stated that the root serious injury.

It was not contended that all accidents cause of the relative ineficiency of the

a grave British cou supply, was its foundation could be. avoided; but it was

This in fact that, under private ownership, the private profit-ranking. eficiency, which was seriously detrimental pecuniary interest of the colliery sbare WAS permanently against the to national well-being was not so beholders ascribed to personal shortcoming in those adoption, in their entirety, of the safe who directed the various branches of the guards that the Home Office recommend industry. There seemed no ground for ed and the very fact that the coal accusing the mining engineers, or the owners naturally resisted such improve directors managers of collieries, or the ments inevitably caused the Home Office merchants or dealers in coal, of any to be reluctant to recommend all ibat i technical inefficiency. Indeed, it was would wish to do. not suggested that there was among them. for the most part, any inefficiency in get ting profita. To the economist of to-day, as to the statesman, an efficiently directed industry of coal supply would-be one which:

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te) provided for all the persons engage ed in the industry the essential conditions of a civilized life. full opportunity for individual dévelopment and civil ef ficiency, so far as was.compatible with the pecessary conditions;

(b) reduced to a minimum the number and gravity of the casualties incidental to the industry, and the impairment of health by its special diseases:

(e) produced the required amonat, of roul when and where it was wanted with the greatest regularity and the smallest possible offerts and sacrifices of those engaged which (and not the amount of wages or salaries, the economist meant by "cat. of prodaction":

(made as economien as possible a draft on the nation's irreplaceable re- sources in coal.

the Home Office. From the standpoint adding what I do, I do, that's all."

the consumers, such a monopoly would Embarrassed when the reporters per-" be scarcely less open to objeétioni esisted, Sing Kee tried his best to be were, in an unboly proft making alliance, spared from telling what he did but some the joint concern of the combined of his companions spoke up for him. It capitalists and the Miners' Federation. seems the reporters had learned somehow that the Chinese had won the Croix de Finally, a Government which was ad- ministering a national system of railway Guerre." From the account given. it areas that Sing Kee was one of twenty and other transport, and also a national

runners ordered to maintain communica- system of electricity generation, could hardly allow itself to be dependent for tions between the advanced battalions in the regularity of its indispensable coal the battle of Mont Notre Dame on August The enemy made it very hot supply on a privately owned and ad- 13th last- ministered con trust. There was thus, for everyone and a gas attack took heavy politically, no alternative to national toll among those in advanced' positions.

Nineteen of the twenty were put out of nction in the course of these operationa but Sing Ke managed to keep going

ownership.

COMPENSATION OVER £200,000,000,

COMPENSATION CHEAPER THAN PREVENTION.

Marcover, with colliery agenta, pit pinagers sad deputies or overlookers. keenly aware that the working expenses must be kept down, it was impossible to secure suficient thought or care, and sufficient expenditure on stricter super vision and more adequate precautions. A whole generation of financial experienes of the Employer' Liability Act A couple of decades of the Workmen's Compensa tion Act-bad demonstrated a fact of Committee, momentous significance-namely that it usually cost less to compensate for accid eats then to prevent them. The miners had at least some ground for their firm belief that a nationalized administration would (a) make general at all mines all the mechanical safeguards already in use at the best of them; (5) render easier the adoption of new safeguards and precau ticas; and (e) diminish risks by lessening the strength of the plea that accidents cost less than prevention.

With regard to diseases. also, the fea of increas-fi›expense to the owners, and It was on these four points that the pres of the political resistance which that fear went system of "dministration of gualused, et present paralysed the authe mining and coal-distributing was (accord-rity responsible for the miners' health. ing to the weighty judgment of Sir It stopped even educational work. With Richard Redmayne, the exner en Chief an adequately endowed and continuously Inspector of Mines) extergant and working Research Department ferming wasteful alike as regarded uman life part of the Ministry of Mines under a

This

The question of compensation on ex- propriation was, in the matter of coal, despite all danger and dificulties and a comparatively smal and simple probataggered in at a most critical stage and lem.

Less than the retail price of one delivered a highly iraportant message bes year's coal was involved; only a quarter fore he collapsed with gas filled lungs. of what the railways would cost and He does not now remember how he did fewer than 10,000 separate interests. Ac for he was in a dazed and semi-conscious tording to the principles face down her condition bas he recalls having a vague Summer's que take as the basis to die somewhere where the message he

Trade Finance impression that it was important they for compensation the pre-war income and here would be seen and picked up. the pre-war estimate of its security as determination kept him somehow on his fect until he reached his goal when he at expressed in the number of years' pur chase that such an income then normally

once collapsed and remained at death's capitalization Ar- sold for. The pre-war rived at should be reduced by a percent door, in the hospital for some time."

the average capital de;

Army surgeons regard this a one of are represenThere would be no valid the remarkable cases where a man's deter preciation.

compensation in

in respect of par- mination and will-power conquer physical ticular sets (whether buildings, handicaps. The Croix de Guerre machinery, stocks, railway trucks, ships, awarded to Sing Kee for one of the etc.), all of which would pass to the Goy pluckiest exhibitions seen on the battle-

in an amalgamation of comfeld.-V. C. Star. · erament,

Government might fairly

panies.

Lor

The

claim to deduct the five or six years' de preciation and exhaustion of the coal, pat, on the other hand, it would only ba fair to add to the compensation based on pre-war income the amount of new capi- tal actually put into the concern since the basic

Compensation on this basis, would pre-

Debenture-holders in the 1.500 colliery

SMOKING IN CHURCH. STARTLING IDEAS FOR MORE POPULAR SERVICES. Worshippers at St. James Church,

more

helpful and popular, with the result.

and personal development, the nation's system by which local mine managements sumably be made payable to (a) the 8.000 Eermondsey, were appealed to last month coal, and expense to the consumer. The would vie" with one another in demand. f recipients of royalty rents and wayleaves for frank suggestions ag to ways in which... cause of this waste and extravagance was ing the newest improvements, instead of Cuss the Mineral Rights Duty); (4) the the Sunday evening service could be made the present system, or absence of system, resisting them; the miners might very companies: (el the Preference and Ordin that some interesting replies have been. which and the management of coal reasonably expert a steady diminutionary shareholders; (d) the comparatively received.

It was im.

few individual owners of collieries. mining, the marketing of the coal, and of casualties and disease.

Where collieries were worked primarily its retail distribution the sport of in-sible to exagggerate the national im

for the supply of particular businesses dividual enterprise and competition for portance of this.

the same ownership, they might be profit. without union of aim or co-ordi-

allowed to remain as they were, subject nation of effort. each of the jostling

to all coal, 20*

all coal not used in the business being rivals seeking, and being tested by, not

placed at the disposal of the Minister public service, but merely private gain.

Only national ownership could meet the

of Mines at coet. necessities of the position. National zation was called for (1) as the only means of adequately improving the position of the miners with regold to

INFANT MORTALITY,

It was not a small matter for the nation that the miners, as a whole-one tenth of the entire community-had the highest infantile mortality of any section namely, 100 per 1,000 births-as com- pared with only 96.9 for agricultural bourers as a whole, and with 78.4 for the paper and middle class. The out

in the

The same principles should be applied, to the various businesses of factors, mer- more than a small fraction of chants and dealers in coal where this forg

Eleven correspondents advocate that a part of the church, either a gallery or the ack pews, should be reserved for smokers. It is suggested that where the pipe cannot be admitted the male will not go. Another member is anxious to know way a Lesson should always be read out of the Old Testament. "It could be more profitably chosen, he thinks, from

or Ruskin. When it comes to the serror the vicar and bis curate are in something of quandary, so varied are the

suggestions,

housing, accidents, and special discase, standing cause of this was to be found such businesses. A large proportion of Some want topical subjects, while others and infantile mortality; (2) as the only in the special conditions nf the miner the persons employed would be offered ask for a studious course of instruction

the nsual

al Civil Service eo pensation should be paid.

service

means of dealing economically and ef home-the dirt that he and his sons and public administration in the problems of economies, ethics, or

philosophy.

Sciently with the nation's coal resources; brought in every day; the discomforts of and (3) as the only means of ensuring his washing all over in the one room that the coal is supplied to the con- available for the family; the hanging up of Government stock that would be issued to turn the church into a cinema

to dry of the wet and grimy pit clothes; the excentionally hard work imposed on the miner's wife, not lessened by the habit of more than the average number of

sumers.

L

children.

"A

There is one suggestion which stands in The witness suggested that the amount

a category by itself, and that is the advice in satisfaction of all demands, if the hearty laugh at Charlie Chaplin does principles of the Liquor Trade Finance more good than any pic-jaw," says the

were writer-Daily News. Committer (England and Wales) adopted, might be between £300,000,000, subject to a recoupment by the railway administra- tien in respect of the trucks taken over

The Chairman, interrupting, asked whe- ther the Government stock would bear in

and

terest.

A MINES' HOUSING FÜND The housing conditions of the mining population, which constituted a grave national perit, could only be effectively

Of course, this was no concern of the dealt with by a public autnority "at

colliery shareholders and directors and national scope. What was wanted was prompt expenditure of something like 10 it would be equally outside the ken of a capitalist trust. Only a Ministry of or 12 millions sterling; the planning of Mines could take into account the effect whole series of well-designed new village, placed in situations easy of access to the that the industry was having on so large whole of each part of the "conifield; and 4 proportion of the nation's children. There might be, on this ground alone, a built at the cost of a national bousing universal installation of nithead haths, fund provided by the mining industry and provision of nit clothing, to be a whole. It would plainly be impractic changed before going home. There might able to arrange for such a subsidy while he some arrangement by which different leaving private colliery owners, whether shifts were made up entirely of men separately or united in any capitalist dwelling in different cottages, so as to trust, to reap the pecuniary profits. avoid upsetting the household hours. It

Such a miners' housing fund, moreover, might be found that the most effective rate of

call

210,le

must not be provided, any more than any way of saving the lives of 30,000 or 40,000 what tereat subsequently That is would be merged, and greatly developed; other national purpose should be paid miners' babies a year was to lay on hot technique. Tha question of financial research; scientific costing and measure

cial

the

tatives of the various main grades 'and sections of the million employes, who might be nominated by the who Federation of Great Britain, and by "any Mr. Sidney Webb suggested that it was other organizations concerned; (e) unnecessary to go into that question besibly

a representativo euch of the Trea cause there was always the alternative of sury and of the public, canal, and elec per cent, stock at 100.

suing four per cent, stock at 64 or five tricity administration; and (d) an expert The point we representative of the domestic consumers that whatever stock was issued should be who

be nominated by the co-opera saleable in the market go as to yield the tive movement. amount of cash required

Among the principal branches of the The Chairman. Would it be advisable Ministry of Mines should be those of to issue stock at a certain rate of interest safety and health, in which the for five years with a reduction in the Mines Department of "the Hom prosent

Government would have ment; equipment and stores: and alloca for, by a tax on coal, even of only a

water from a central, station to every

to be very careful not to adopt.any finan.tion for controlling the supply of the A better method would miner's cottage, and introduce other

which would make arrangements penny per ton.

market be to charge the Miners' National Hous labour-saving devices, to counteract the stock worth less in the

Would the stock be general stock or an be existing coal districts should each administered by a district superinten these wero for other TCABONS made imposed on the mother of his children think it would be as profitable if the Gov. Mines, who should be assisted by the cational property. If the royalty-owners But no privately owned industry would ernment were to issue it as part of gen-munsel and criticism of a local coal cozn were compensated by being paid the pre-or could do these things.

eral stock, and not give it a fancy name. cil. The executive scat selling value of their incomes (sty THE NATION'S COAL RESOURCES.

I think & 10 years purchase), the interest and

as at present, in There was under a system of private advantage to investors is always a dis- pit or mine would be,agement of each the hands of responsible officer duly sinking fund payable by the Government ownership, not only no motive for an If you had Coal Stock, what would be qualified, and apointed by on the capital required (say 6 per cent) economical use of the nation's coal re your view about a special sinking fund of Mines, with the advice of the local by the Minster would leave an actual fund of a couple sources. but also none of the necessary to pay it off!It would undoubtedly be mines council. He should have the rous of millions, which might be allocated to knowledge of the problem a whole. desirable that there should be a special sel, and criticism of a pit tomamitice housing, without causing any increase in The system of letting the coal be got by sinking fund in order to be perfectly and which, like the manager, would be under 1.500 separate colliery concerns, "working pedantically right, in view of the waste obligation to carry out every decision of the price of coal

I do not the National Coal Council, to which there With regard to Accidents and special their 3.000 mines without co-ordination, ing nature of the property.

that the coal proper would always be a right of representation diseases, it was not usually realized that could hardly be claimed, in the light of ecessarily the miner was always in the trenches, up-to-date busine's methods, as efficient asset, except On the average 3,000 casualties were or economical. Such an anarchic chaoé

sinking fund each year.

A Cigar of full flavour and attractive shape, covered with-the ing Fund on the mining royalties, when extra burden that the miner's occupation ear-marked coal stock -Personally, I dent. to be appointed by the Minister of

finest Sumatra Leaf.

LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.

THE

CORONET

Presents

[58

AMBASSADOR JAMES W. GERARD'S MY FOUR

FOUR YEARS IN

GERMANY

FOR TWO NIGHTS

as follows:

ONLY

SATURDAY, June 14th, at 215, 5.15 & 9.15 pm, SUNDAY, Juno 18th, at 6 pm. & 9.15 p.m.

•

Prices

9.15 p.m. $2.00 & $1.00

MATINEE $1.00 & 60 cents

Booking at ROBINSON'S.

:

f1.35

21

+

ties.

of the

long

time. In this

enough to involve absence from work for in the price of coal being kept up to

at least seven days (some 25 being fatal). what would pay the worst-situated,

· officially reported each week as serious necessarily resulted over a term of

years

case, the last tuld be a wasting and appeal.

would itself provide

THE PLAN OF MANAGEMENT.

Mr. Webb,

The note of the whole administration from top to bottom should be the fullest. possible publicity. The Ministry should koep in its own hands the supply of all

Public attention was fixed on explosions worst equipped, and worst-managed mine gested that tinuing his evidence, sug- the public Departments and local elec

of fredamp or coaldust, sometimes kill that was required to maintain the output. ministration, and ing men by scores or hundreds; but these Similarly, it resulted in the rainer's wage the House

at the head of the whole ad ties including the railway, canal,

responsible ta there must be

trations

industrial users of more than"

and all the export and presiding over a triding magnitude; stuffed for deal bunker With

the Ministry

tricity, water, and tramway adminis

of

Comm

Minister for

aliko

to

were the least of the dangers. For more being kept down to what this marginal Department the scientific and mechani- tioar supply by rail, canal, or coasting

serious were the falls of side or roof, de carring to somebody's grave hurt at the rate of nearly 200 every day in the year,

mine could afford at such a price. "

Ho submitted that there was no 'prac ing ticable remedy except national ownership.cal, the medical and social, and the com

The Chairman.-Do you suggest that the means of remedying such of the waste perod? I am a

to

atic consump arrange for a every railway station, but the Whether the Ministry

and accounting for 600 deaths and 62.000 To merge all the 1.500 colliery concerns mercial and financial sides of the work, I shiping and cartage should be under-

in a gigantic capitalist trust might be

man should be suspected for

specified taken locally. and inefficiency as aprang from disunity. It is indispensable that the nation's scoal be of conduct tho

might be left for discussion export trade What ought to be aimed at was-(1) of the Adm

by the House absolute continuity of working, so as to

like every other

any breakdown of supply; (2)

to be a member of the. Fonse of 4224 of the price to the home.comTM

serious injuries annually. Shaft accid- ente took place two a day, killing a couple of men daily, and gravely injur ing several others.

But it would not solve the housing probminea should be In addition, more than 25.000 men and lem or that of the excessive infantile part boys were maimed or crushed, annually mortality; it would still be cheaper for of Commons, and I know of no other way guarantee the miners against any unem fand over 200 killed), by being run over the trust to compensate for arcident than by a Minister responsible in the real ployment; (2) security by local stocking underground by trams or tabes, and over then to prevent them; there would be no sense to the House of Commons. Conse 75,000, more, auffered injuries incapacitat- more regard for the most economical use que

Anmer, whether industrial or

domnestic. being killed) by accidents classed only as conl; and there would still be the causes Commons, and ought to be liable to a There was no warrant for any difference ing them for over seven days (some 200 of the nation's irrominteable stores of quently, I think the Minister of Mines

vote between "miscellaneous." They were in the case of Waste and inefficiency incident to the vote of censure; and if such of the miners coining their blood-for-present individual ownership of royal were..

summer and winter prices, and it should bring down no need for a rise where there was a fall Carried

Ministry the whole Mined that the Minister of industrial consumer should be guaranteed

of snow. It was suggested that drachmas." The liability to accident in ties.

Witness

every the different coalfields varied consider Any proposal for a capitalist trust in ably, South Wales having by far the coal, however, camouflaged, would meet Mincs should have the counsel and eritie a supply for a term o

ism of a permanent and authoritative than be had been, pairs at no more - worst record, not only for accidents from with the most strenuous opposition, not explosions and those, from falls of side only from the Miners' Federation and National Coal Council, composed of (o) mach to be said for fixing a price for or roof. for which there might be some the whole, Labour Party, but also from the bends of the principal branches of household coal that should be infor the central administration; (b) represenable as the postage stamp, and uniform excuse in the character of the strata, but the powerful co-operative movement,, now

Continued rt foot of next column.) at every railway station in the kingdom. also for those from being run over by beginning to hare its own collieris,

There, wan