THE COAL TRIBUNAL
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sin,—The proposed Appeal Tribunal is being criticized on the ground that it cannot make the miners return to work, nor compel the owners to carry on at a loss.
It would, however, have one important effect : if the miners refused to accept the award of the Tribunal the country would support the Government in making any alteration in the Poor Law, which might be necessary to prevent the quartering of the miners' families on the rates, while the men remained idle.
On the other hand, if the owners refused the award, it would be up to the Government to justify the Tribunal's award by empowering it to find a management able to carry on the mines in question at a reasonable profit, on the basis of the award.
When reasonableness and good will have failed to effect a settlement between owners and miners, an Appeal Tribunal must have power to apply pressure, and in the interest of the country as a whole, to compel a settlement ; the only alterna- tive appears to be to let the quarrel go on with ammunition supplied by the rates at enormous expense to the country as a whole.
It is true that the Tribunal cannot make miners work or owners carry on, but it can make it extremely uncomfortable for either party to refuse to accept the award.—I am, Sir, E. H. B.
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