24 AUGUST 1929, Page 2

Coal and Common Sense A further conference of colliery owners,

held last week, has issued a statement which inspires con- fidence in the ability and willingness of the coal industry to achieve Rationalization by its own unaided efforts. Lest the Government should exercise statutory powers of compulsion, as demanded by the miners, the owners have agreed upon co-ordination Of the -various district marketing Schemes, which will at last make it possible for the national industry 'to negotiate with the centralized entities abroad. Besides the 'actual arrangements for marketing there seems to be a readiness to ' face the consequences:=--viz., Central regulation of output and, in addition; some control of prieel. There is still a certain amount of opposition in Scotland, which appears to be somewhat backward in the spirit of industrial co-opera- tion—hence the harvest reaped by Socialism north of the Cheviots. It is confidently expected, however, that the Scottish collieries will shortly fall into line.