Back to the Mines
The coal position is serious. If the output cannot be greatly increased before the winter war industry will be short of coal or the domestic consumer will be cold, or both. The calculation of the Government is that an additional 500,00o tons a week must be produced. How is this to be done? Mr. Bevin and Mr. Grenfell, the Secretary for Mines, are making a joint appeal to former miners to return to the pits. Also they are asking managers to concentrate on maximum production and men to avoid absenteeism. Mr. Bevin does well to remind the younger men who for no good reason absent themselves that they owe their exemption from military service to the fact that they are needed for coal-getting. If they slack in the latter there is no reason why they should be reserved. In his attempts to get former miners back to the collieries he urges duty on the one side and promises security of employment on the other. But there is one decision reached by the Government which must not pass unquestioned. Mr. Bevin said that it had decided not to bring men back from the Forces. That is a short-sighted decision which it is impossible to defend. Coal is a condition of almost everything else. If we are short of coal for war industries then even the Army should yield up some of its skilled miners, and should retain only those whose special skill is needed in military work.
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