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February, 1945

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As is well known within the industry Mr. Robert Foot was appointed Chairman of the Mining Association early last year and was commissioned to survey and investigate anew the whole position of the coal industry with a view to making concrete proposals for its future operation. He has now issued his report, which should not only go far to present the industry in a more correct perspective than it has hitherto enjoyed in the public eye, but also to unify and hasten the industry's progress and efficiency. The report, containing some 30,000 words, necessarily demands careful study in its full text, but we give, nevertheless, the main thesis, eliminating much of the historical review which is already well known to technologists in the industry.

The Report

As Mr. Foot sees it the problem is that of giving to the miner continuous employment at a good rate of wages and to capital a return allowing a proper margin for amortisation, depreciation, development and reasonable profit; while at the same time selling the product to the consumer in full quantities at economic prices.

To accomplish this there is required: from the miner, good and continuous work with a liberal approach to cost-reducing processes; from the management, enterprise, efficiency, and adaptability to all modern methods; and from the consumer, an understanding of the Industry's problems, and sufficient patience to give the miner and the owner their chance to make their respective but mutual contributions.

The question that has to be answered is: "Are the present owners the right men to be trusted with the control of the coal mining industry in the future?" The answer given is : "Yes, with the essential proviso that they are prepared to accept the drastic kind of reorganisation demanded by the seriousness and difficulties of the present situation."

Responsible miners, young and old, agree that things are much better than they used to be — better than they have ever been; but they believe sincerely that they were let down after the last war, and are suspicious and fearful that they will be let down again.

Although there is, throughout the coalfields, a genuine desire for co-operation between the management and the workmen, including their local leaders in the lodges and the branches of the Unions, based upon a real anxiety to get things right in the Industry, the miners' leaders as a class have consistently urged upon their followers that nationalisation is the only salvation; and at all crises in the industry this has been the ultimate policy of the Mineworkers' Federation, and the overriding influence upon its attitude.

Provisions for Welfare, Safety, Housing and Recruitment

Existing provisions — to the general public an unknown side of the miner's life — are reviewed. On safety, it is pointed out that regulation has usually been applied to make general the best practice at individual or particular undertakings; but it is insisted that no expense should be spared in doing what is scientifically and physically practicable to reduce the dangers to life and limb. One of the most important amenities that should surround the miner's life is a good house, at a rent he can reasonably afford, in a situation conveniently placed for all purposes of shopping, recreation and the enjoyment of leisure.

The most fruitful and valuable source of recruitment for the Industry — the miners' families throughout the country — is in danger of drying up, unless conditions can be created and maintained that will raise its status and standard of life, and give "equal opportunities for all." Such a scheme is outlined.

The Short-term Problem is summed up as a shortage of coal, for which a number of possible or contributory reasons are suggested. Although the immediate picture is one of failure by the miners to make the best use of the facilities for production now available; although absenteeism is now higher than ever before in the records of the Industry; and although a restoration of performance even to the level of the third quarter of 1943 would increase the annual rate of output by some 10,000,000 tons; yet it would be wrong to suggest that the miners have it in their power to put the whole of the present situation right : just as it is untrue to charge the owners with using their influence to make the present system of control a failure. But if politics could be put on one side, and the owners and miners could really sit round a table and discuss matters as if they were partners in a joint enterprise, it might easily make all the difference — both immediately and in the future.

The Background of the Present

The progress of the industry up to the year 1913, and the turbulent events of the last 30 years, are reviewed, with the following general conclusions :–

(a) That the abrupt decontrol of the Industry by the Government in March, 1921, was the forerunner of the subsequent troubles of the Industry.

(b) That neither owners nor miners were to blame for the consequences to the Industry of the Great Depression of the thirties, although if the owners had been more closely organised as a national body, some part of the economic storm might have been averted.

(c) That the reconstruction carried out between 1927 and 1938 justified the expectation that the Industry had in prospect, when the present war broke out, a period of stability and relative prosperity such as it had not experienced for 25 years.

The question of nationalisation is examined, and the verdict of the Samuel Commission upon it quoted at some length; and the conclusion is reached that to nationalise the Industry because anything is better than the present position would be a policy of despair, and that there is another way which will enable the best elements in private enterprise to serve the county in the future as they have done in the past.

The Objective of the Plan

This is summed up as follows :–

(i) There can be no other broad basis for the organisation and policy of the Coal Industry than that of National Service (and this fundamental principle underlies all the subsequent proposals). But for an industry so to regard its responsibilities and so to arrange its affairs, is not a negation of private enterprise, or an admission that private citizens agreeing together of their own free will, will not discharge their responsibilities more effectively and with greater enterprise and efficiency, and with more certainty, than any State-imposed organisation.

(ii) Colliery owners, big and small, should for all purposes accept a joint responsibility for the efficient management of the Industry in the interests of the Nation; and can only discharge that responsibility if, as far as main principles and policies are concerned, they take a national and not a local or sectional view, and are prepared to accept and faithfully to carry out all decisions that may be designed to that end.

(iii) The colliery owners must accept their responsibilities in a sense of trusteeship for the Nation, and must not only establish the main principles under which this trusteeship is to be carried out, but must also so organise the Industry as to carry for all time an inherent promise — and, indeed, guarantee — that these principles will be held fast and faithfully put into practice wherever coal is mined in this country now or in the future.