This is a very unusual matter to bring before the Dáil. In so far as the dispute itself is concerned, I do not propose to enter into its merits, nor do I think the Dáil is the proper place for resolving industrial disputes or questions in respect of which feeling runs high outside. The Department of Industry and Commerce is charged with the responsibility of dealing with those matters, and they are usually best left to the officers who have that responsibility rather than that they should be ventilated here in the Dáil. The Minister, in the course of his reply to-day, said he understood that the purpose of the strike now proceeding at the Castlecomer mine is to compel the Government to alter the provisions of Emergency Powers (No. 166) Order by excluding coalmine workers from its scope. That is not my interpretation of the issue which is at present disturbing industrial conditions down in Castlecomer.
There were two phases in the course of this dispute, one of which is happily ended. Outside of the persons immediately concerned, I think that everybody who had the interests of the miners and of the district at heart was well pleased when the stay-in strike came to an end. In so far as any contribution from the men is concerned, I take it, having regard to the determination which was shown in the step they took on that occasion, that they have made an advance towards a settlement by ceasing that particular phase of the struggle.
The Minister, in the course of his reply to-day, stated that he set up a committee of inquiry to investigate the conditions of the industry, and that the recommendations of the committee were implemented in full by the sixth amendment of the Emergency Powers (No. 83) Order which permitted a further increase in the remuneration paid. He further went on to say that the tribunal to which the matter was referred had it under consideration on the 22nd January, and, but for the strike, it might be assumed that the application would have resulted in the making of a bonus Order. The dates in this case is not very material but, so far as my information is concerned, the tribunal sat on the 22nd January and the strike took place on the 25th January. It might have been reasonably expected that a decision could have been given on the 23rd January, or perhaps even on the evening of the 22nd, because the circumstances were such in this particular case, or in fact in any case where there is a dispute of the kind, that the earlier a decision of that sort was come to the better.
I take it from what the Minister said that some decision must have been arrived at, or at any rate that the proposals were fairly ripe for an actual decision. But, in the course of his reply, the Minister went on to say that amongst the grievances which were voiced by the Castlecomer miners was the fact that their tonnage rates are lower than those operating at other collieries. That, according to my information, is the whole sum and substance of this dispute. In the next part of that particular paragraph the Minister, who is generally fair throughout the whole of the statement, goes on to say that in the case of those collieries which are not modern or not well-equipped, or which are in the earlier stages of their development, extra prices have to be allowed for the coal that is won from them. Let us take that statement as it stands. At the present moment there is no competition as between mine and mine. There is sufficient demand for any coal that is mined in any mine in this country. In fact, the demand far exceeds the supply. So that, in so far as the relative merits of one colliery and another are concerned, they are not at issue here.
The Minister further states in that paragraph that he sees some difficulties, and I am sure that there are some difficulties in the way in connection with a matter of this sort. But, let us assume for a moment that the coal from one mine costs £X to produce, that £X plus £Y can be secured for that in the market without any difficulty, and that they are in a position to make a profit on that £X plus £Y. It is obvious that those who are employed in a mine only two, three or four miles away will have an objection when they see a price of only £X being paid for what they are mining. They are doing the same work, they are employed in the same business, they are working the same hours and they suffer under the same disabilities. The fact that there is a discrimination against them in a case of this sort is what is at the root of this dispute.
It is particularly satisfactory to note that the production of coal from the Castlecomer mine went up more than 60 per cent. in 1942 over 1940. There is evidence there of appreciation of the national need of the moment. The output is certainly satisfactory to an outsider like myself. I am sure that the more coal that is mined in that place the more satisfactory it will be for everybody.