MR. BALD'VVIN AND THE MINERS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—The letter of Mr. Barnes-Austin in your issue of August 22nd is an example of the difficulties which the Conservative Party have to meet within their own ranks. Mr. Barnes-
Austin appears to be unaware that " the extraordinary difference that obtains between the production of miners of
other countries and our own " consists in our miners pro- ducing more per man than those of any country other than the U.S.A., where the conditions are admittedly not com- parable. He is also apparently unaware that " the great falling off of the output per man " is only about 10 per cent. here, while in France it is 25 per cent., and in Belgium 9.5 per cent.
Speaking as a professional man who has practised in a colliery district for over twenty years, and has been concerned at various times for royalty owners, mineowners and miners, I may be allowed to say that I am by no means satisfied that the miners are not in the right. That there has been, on the part of the mine owners, juggling with figures, intentional working of unprofitable seams, and payment of high salaries and directors' fees, to avoid disclosing profits, I feel certain from facts within my professional knowledge. Whether it can be proved before a Commission is another matter.
The " utter feebleness of Mr. Baldwin " was paralleled by that of the Duke of Wellington when he said " The King's Government must be carried on." I may add that I am a Conservative, but I see no future for my party while a certain section take their " principal facts " from our Yellow Press.—
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