Output Down to 20 Years Ago London, Oct. 15.
There was a large attendance of the public at the first sitting of the Coal Commission at Westminster 'Hall. The sitting was attended representatives of the Miners' Federation and of the Mining As-
Mr. Ernest Gowers, Permanent Under-Secretary for Mines, stated that the present demand, and consequently the present output, of British coal had descended to the level of 20 years ago, but the industry was employing upwards of a quarter million more persons. The consumption of former customers in Russia, Germany and Austria had been' reduced by 46,000,000 tons.
Replying to Mr. Ueveridge, Mr. Gowers mentioned that seven men were now employed where previously there were six. He agreed that the pre-war standard of wages could only be maintained by increased output per head of employees or a material increase in the prices of coal relative to other articles. Mr. Gowers said that he realized that he painted a very gloomy picture—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.