. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE COAL STOPPAGE 'AND CHILDREN'S ALLOWANCES [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—There is one part of the Coal Report which seems to have been forgotten by owners and miners alike, although properly used it supplies a formula for reconciling their conflicting claims. The miners base their case on the need for maintaining the standard of living of themselves and their families. For example, Mr. Herbert Smith in the Times said, The miners are out to fight against a reduction in wages tvhich would make it impossible for the mother to give her children the food and clothing she desired." It is indeed obvious that those whose standards are seriously menaced by wage reductions are the men with dependent children (who constitute rather more than half the miners).
The Coal Commission proposed to meet this difficulty by the introduction of a system of children's allowances. While recommending this, whether wages were reduced or not, they pointed out that it would "neutralize largely or com- pletely any evil effects that would otherwise result from a fall in wages." The question is how adequate consideration for this recommendation can be secured. It is clear that nothing will come of it unless it forms part of the main settlement, for in the course of that owners and miners will have agreed to the maximum sacrifices they can be induced to accept. It is further probable that nothing will come of it if the whole cost has to be borne by the industry. Many of us believe with the Commissioners that children's allowances would prove "one of the most valuable measures that can be adopted for adding to the well-being and contentment of the mining population." Hence we believe that it would be worth while for the Government to give a lift to the proposal by allocating to the children's allowance scheme part of what- ever assistance they are willing to give the industry.—! am, Sir, &c., BALFOUR OF BURLEIGR.
[We entirely agree with Lord Balfour of Burleigh. When the Report was published we pointed out the importance of the proposed allowances. They would remedy most if not all of the hardship of a reduction in wages in directions where the hardship would otherwise be severely felt. --En. Spectator.]
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