COAL MERCHANTS' BUSINESS
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In the " Week in Parliament " of your issue of July 24th, your correspondent adversely criticizes the Government, saying, " It is heartily blamed about its policy with regard to profiteering in coal imported from abroad." He also says " Unionists are wondering whether it is really worth while going on informing our industrialists how to run their busi- nesses." I wonder whether " New Member " is right with regard to the desire of his fellow-members. Speaking from personal experience coal merchants and importers need all the encouragement they can get at present. It has become a habit with a certain type of mind to make unfounded charges against people who are trying to carry on and to keep industry going. Simply because the market price happens to be high they jump to this conclusion without any reliable evidence. Importers at present need much courage, capital and experi- ence. It is a fact that some of the stuff sent over in the 1921 strike was on hand when the present trouble started. It was valueless and nobody would make an offer for it. It is very tedious to try and explain to such people the reasons and circumstances of the case, they seem quite incapable of grasping business problems. The evidence given before the Royal Commission on this matter will confirm the statement that in most charges of this kind there is not the slightest ground for complaint. Surely industrial buyers are capable of getting what fuel they require without Government help ; if not, they are incapable of running their own businesses. The domestic consumer is now buying very little indeed, and as the merchant is restricted to one cwt. deliveries, if the whole lot were profit he would still be probably the unfortunate indi- vidual who loses the most heavily through this unfortunate and unnecessary conflict. The Government might give a little encouragement to people in the coal business ; it is certain many will feel the effects financially for some years.--
Hull.
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