June is more than probable that if an accurate summary were compiled, with results, of all the world's state-controlled industries and undertakings, it would show, that in the majority of cases state-control of any sphere of economic activity results finanefal loss or reduced efliciene; or both, with an reaction ing and a detriment to the State and its people ally, Experience has proved that with very few exceptions control by a State of industry is not to be desired in the best interests of. that State, It curtails private competition,—stiftes individual enterprise and discourages intative; it (usually) gives the State immunity "from the 8 of defections, res-and liabilities to which private concerns ure. subject—as witness the State operation of ships—it nullifies, Jargely, that constant call for and "need of economy and efficiency which constitute the sine yui non of private businesses; it lumbers itself and encumbers itself with bureau cratic and often redundant official appointments invariably well paid and as often as not and it ives the workers the erroneous impression that behind them is a limitless pit of wealth into which they may delve as deeply and as frequently as opportunities occur or can be manufactured, irr spective of commonsense, equity and the condition of the industry or undertaking.
We have specially in mind the case of the miners at Home, and appreciate, as well as any, that the miner follows a hazardous and unpleasant occupation and that in producing commodity. which, possibly more than any other, has contributed and still contributes to the Empire's greatness, he is worthy of every reasonable consideration and the most generous treatment the industry, as private enterprise, can afford. The miners never have made any secret of their ambition and desire for the nationalization of the coal industry. Whether it is that they imagine that the State can do any Detter than, or as well as private ownership, or that, urged and directed by their_own executives, they think or are moulded into thinking that a Government Coal Department would be easier to extract concessions and advantages from than private employers, isnot clear. An excellent indication of their attitude, or rather that of their officials, is furnished by the inquiry which, under the Presidency of Lord Buckmaster, recently investigated conditions and wages in the coal indust Mr, Herbert Smith, who represented the miners, laid it down that if a colliery ould not pay its workers that standard "or wages which the Miners' Federation deemed imperative, it ought to shut down! His statement, analysed, means that where the miners are concerned, wages shall not bear any relation to the earning capacity of the undertaking, which would have to continue indefinitely without providing any return on the capital invested in it, or until all the capital had been eaten up, and dismissing its employees and shutting down, It is an amazing doctrine, not even commendable in theory and one which, in practice, would result in either the speedy extinetion of the industry or in the untold wealth that is sunk in the coal business being rendered utterly unproductive, with ultimate detriment to the Stars asa whole and to the mine-owners and the miners particularly. The Labour party, since it came into: power, has shown a sometviat unexpected reasonableness in taarly matters where unreasonableness was feared, and it is to be hoped that in regard to the interim able howling for the-nationalization of the coal industry an eq: tal reasonableness—will Mualiy:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.