2 AUGUST 1919, Page 13

THlil FOREST OF DEAN MINES.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,—One finds many people who confuse the nationalization of minerals with that of mines, but one does not expect a "Lawyer " to fall into the mistake. The mines in the Forest of Dean are not " practically nationalized," or nationalized at all. The minerals, subject to the customs of the Forest, are. The miners work on their own account, or for colliery com- panies. They are not paid for their work by the State, nor (Ices the State receive the profits of the pits. Both these are contemplated under " nationalization of mines," though, whilst the former is certain, the latter is more than problematical.