Coal and Commonsense - Labour’s Scheme for the Future of the Coal Industry

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aria

A Labour Movement memorandum of evidence by the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain outlining proposals for restructuring and developing the coal and power industry. It frames the future of coal as essential to wider British industry, argues against pit closures and wage reductions, and calls for unified national ownership with scientific treatment of coal. It also addresses electrical power, abolishing smoke, technical advances, production councils, internal distribution, export trade, and the finance of nationalisation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages16

Reading Time40 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

Part I.—The Future of the Coal and Power Industry

Part II.—The Labour Plan for Reorganising and Developing the Coal and Power Industry

97-84064-28Miners'Federation ofGreat Britain Coal and commonsense [London] [1926] COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARIESPRESERVATION DIVISIONBIBLIOGBAPHIC MICROFORM TARGET ORIGINAL MATERIAL AS FILMED·EXISTING BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD Reproductions may not be made without permislon trom Columbia University Librarles. RESTRICTIONS ON USE: TECHNICAL MICROFORM DATA FILM SIZE: 35mnBEDUCTION RATIO: 10:/ IB IIB IMAGE PLACEMENT:IA DATE FILMED: 4-4-97INITIALS: 8 23335 TRACKING\#: FILMED BY PRESERVATION RESOURCES,BETHLEHEM,PA. 2014 COAL and COMMONSENSE LABOUR’S SCHEME for the future of the Coal Industry "Whoever dominates power dominates industry" G.PINCHOT,Goveruar of Penryinawia. PRICE TWOPENCE Publisbed under the auspices of THe MINERs'FEDERATLON oF GREAT BRTTAIN;THE TR△DES UNIONCoNGRESS GENERAI.CoUNCIn.;TuE LABOUR PARTY NATTONAL ExECUTTVE;AND TIE ExECLTTVE CoMITTEEOF TIE PARLIAMFNTARY LABOUR PARTY. |4r7与1t*raW Memorandum of eDidence MINERS'FEDERATION OF GREAT BRITAIN # CONTENTS. Part I.—The Future of the Coal and PowerIndustry. (A)From Coal Digging to Coal Treatinent. (B)The Importance of Electrical Power. (C)Abolishing the Smoke Evil. THE proposals contained in this Pamphlet have been thesubject of discussion by a Joint Committe representingthe Miners’Federation of Great Britain;the GeneralCouncil of the Trades Union Congress;the NationalExecutive of the Labour Party;and the Executive Com-mittee of the Parliamentary Labour Party.The evidencewas submitted to the Coal Commission as representingthe general conclusions reached by the Joint Committee. (D)New Technical Advances. (E)A Nationally Owned Industry. # Part II.—The Labour Plan for Reorganisingand Developing the Coal andPower Industry. (A)The Case for Public Ownership. (B)Production— (i.)The Power and Transport Commission. (ii.)The National Coal and Power Production Council. (iii.)Provincial Councils. (iv.)Pit and Works Committees. (v.)Relations between Central and Local Administration. (vi.)The Consumers'Council. (vii.)The Determination of Wages and Prices. (C)Internal Distribution. (D)The Export Trade. (E)The Finance of Nationalisation— (i.)The Collieries. (ii.)The Position of Coal Exporters and Internal Distributors. (iii.)Mining Royalties. (F)Observations on the Scheme. FOREWORD. THE country is faced with the task of determining the future ofthe industry which is the lifeblood of every other importantBritish industry. The evidence given before the Coal Commission by the mine.owners has,we believe,convinced a large section of the public thatit is futile to expect a bold lead from those who at present control thecoal industry.The choice which is offered to the miners and to thecommunity is between the contraction of the industry by closing moreand more pits and throwing more miners permanently into the ranksof the unemployed on the one hand,and on the other lower wagesand longer hours for the miners. The miners—and,we venture to think,the whole Labour movement—will resist either policy.We do not believe for one momentthat the coal industry is a sinking ship which must lighten its burdenby throwing part of the cargo overboard.Nor,again,do we believe thatthe way to industrial prosperity is to be found by marching backwardsto conditions of employment which have been universally condemned. The real hope for the future is the unification of the coal industryunder national ownership and the scientific treatment of coal.We.are glad to think that the whole Labour movement is united with theMiners Federation of Great Britain in support of this great constructivescheme which will bring prosperity to the miner and enrich thecommunity. H.SMITH,President, A.J.COOK,Secretary,Miners'Federation of Great Britain. # PART I. THE FUTURE OF THE COAL AND POWER INDUSTRY. The necessity for unification wit

FAQs

What central solution does the memorandum advocate for the coal industry’s future?

It argues for unification under national ownership and the scientific treatment of coal, rather than contraction through pit closures or regression in working conditions.

How does the memorandum characterize the options facing miners and the community?

It contrasts the contraction approach—closing pits and increasing unemployment—with reducing wages and extending working hours for miners.

Which areas are covered under the Labour plan for reorganising and developing coal and power?

It includes public ownership, production structures (such as power and transport commissions), internal distribution, export trade, and the finance of nationalisation, followed by observations on the scheme.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Aria