Allocation of Coal
The announcement about "realistic" coal cuts made by Sir Stafford Cripps on Monday does not in reality carry matters much further. If there is a shortage it is no doubt better that curtailment of supplies should be carried out on some intelligent plan than merely haphazard. The plan will, of course, be the Government's, and nothing is said about any appeal from its decisions. The principle, as laid down by Sir Stafford, is sound as far as it goes. The domestic consumer is to suffer no further restriction, and elec- tricity companies, which have to meet a demand far exceeding any possible supply, are to be immune from further cuts also. But other industries must suffer in varying degrees and they will be told plainly in advance where they will stand for the next few weeks or mouths. On the face of it a drastic cut in supplies to luxury industries would be reasonable, but in fact such industries us.: relatively little coal and a comparatively small saving would result in comparatively extensive unemployment. It is indicated that the arrangements now announced apply to "the next six critical weeks," but no one can suppose that the crisis will be over in six weeks' time. It is true that as days grow longer and the average temperature rises there will be a certain reduction in demand for light and heat, but compared with the vast industrial demand it will be inconsiderable. So far as it does amount to anything it is surprising that the Government has not considered reimposing daylight-saving. That would definitely reduce consumption, at no great inconvenience to anyone. But for the real solution—an appreciable increase of supply as opposed to enforced reduction of demand—we still wait in vain.
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