20 JULY 1951, Page 16

SIR, -While sharing the annoyance expressed by " A Miner "

at the rising price of goods aocompanied by a deterioration in their quality, I am struck by his failure to mention coal. Is this because he does not have to pay for it ? The rest of us would like to know why, when the nation owns the commodity and the means of its distribution, the price of coal is so high and the quality so poor.—Yours, &c., -- ONE WHOSE ENDS Do NOT MEET.