Distress of the Mining Industry Mr. Peter Lee gave a
moderate, reasonable and im- pressive Presidential address at the annual conference of the Miners' Federation. It was impossible for him not to draw a gloomy picture of the condition of the industry, which, he agreed, was distressing to the owners as well as the men. He was justified in saying that our new tariffs, by leading other nations to retaliate, have struck at our coal exports. Mr. Ernest Brown in the House of Commons on the following day emphasized the fact that the trade agreements had slightly increased the exports of coal, but they had already sunk to an unprecedentedly low level. It should scarcely surprise anyone that there is discontent in the mining districts when we realize that there has been a reduction in earnings of 28 per cent., though the output per person has increased by 25 per cent. In Mr. Lee's speech there was nothing of that threatening attitude in which his predecessors have so often indulged. But he did appeal to the owners for more co-operation with the men, and to substitute trust for mistrust by entering into a national agreement. He did not blame, as he might have done, the owners' organization—or failure in organization—of the industry. But he did assert what is undoubtedly true—that it is only by more willingness on the part of the owners to co-operate with the men that future strife can be avoided.
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