* * * * The National Executive of the Miners'
Federation has been discussing means of saving the coal industry. Several thousands of miners have been thrown out of work as the result of the closing of mines. The Labour correspondent of the Westminster Gazette said in the issue of Friday, September 19th, that the shrinkage of coal exports during the first eight months of this year compared with the corresponding period of last year was nearly 11i million tons. The main loss of trade has been in Germany, Belgium and France. Mr. A. J. Cook, the Secretary of the Federation, has stated that the miners are willing to co-operate with the owners to bring down the cost of production. But they make two reservations : first, there must be no reduction of wages, and, secondly, there must be no lengthening of the working day. *
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