21 SEPTEMBER 1918, Page 3

Our second suggestion is that German prisoners should be used

at the collieries. Mr. Smillie and his friends of course will object, but if the resolution of the Government to win the war is not strong enough to overcome the objections of Mr. Smilli e and his friends It cannot, after all, be very strong. There may not be many German prisoners who are skilled in whining coal, but there is an enormous amount of work to be done on the surface which is specially suited for the labour of prisoners. Moreover, the guarding of prisoners would be easier in the mine districts than in most other districts. These proposals are seriously put forward. We hope that they may be pressed upon the Government. If there are valid reasons for rejecting them, the nation ought at least to be Informed what they are.