Welsh Debate
Series
- Series Name
- Mining Review 1st Year
Issue
Story
- Story No. within this Issue
- 4 / 4
- Summary
- NoS synopsis: This staged debate shows members of the Lodge Committee of the Cwmgrach Empire Colliery discussing issues concerning mining machinery - the main question being whether they’re being effectively used. A certain degree of scepticism is expressed about the widespread attitude that machines offer an instant solution to every mining-related problem, and they resent being told that more mechanised mines in America, Germany or Poland are capable of generating more coal. They are concerned that the human element of mining is being neglected, pointing out that the equipment is only as effective as the man who operates it, and it is unrealistic to expect superhuman output, as contingency time must always be allowed to cover unforeseen events such as breakdowns or roof collapses. As one miner describes, "We’ve been working the guts out of our machines during the war", and there is real concern about the lack of availability of spare parts and intermittent power supplies ("There are days when there’s not enough compressed air coming through to drive a donkey cart"). The meeting concludes with an agreement that modern technology must be accompanied by modern conditions, and that productivity will only be increased through effective teamwork and good man-management. The chairman concludes by saying that he’ll approach the Coal Board for more logistical back-up, but stresses that it’s also important for the Lodge members to come up with their own solutions.
- Keywords
- Mining
- Written sources
- The National Archives INF 6 /386
British Film Institute Databases
Viewing Copy - bfi screenonline
Hogenkamp, A. P., unpublished DPhil thesis pxii.
BFI Screenonline synopsis ID No.1223397
- Credits:
-
- Production Co.
- Crown Film Unit
- Camera
- Denny Densham
- Camera
- Fred Gamage
- Director
- Graham Wallace
- Cutter
- Jocelyn Jackson
- Cutter
- John Legard
- Producer
- John Taylor
- Commentator
- Maurice Denham
- Director
- Max Anderson
- Sponsor
- Ministry of Fuel and Power
- Sound
- W. H. May
- Camera
- William Chaston
This series is held by:
Film Archive
- Name
- British Film Institute (BFI)
- For BFI National Archive enquiries:
nonfictioncurators@bfi.org.uk
For commercial/footage reuse enquiries:
footage.films@bfi.org.uk - Web
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- Phone
- 020 7255 1444
- Fax
- 020 7580 7503
- Address
- 21 Stephen Street
London W1T 1LN - Notes
- The BFI National Archive also preserves the original nitrate film copies of British Movietone News, British Paramount News, Empire News Bulletin, Gaumont British News, Gaumont Graphic, Gaumont Sound News and Universal News (the World War II years are covered by the Imperial War Museum).
- Series held
- View all series held by British Film Institute (BFI)
How to cite this record
'Welsh Debate', Mining Review 1st Year Issue No. 2, Oct 1947. https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/newsonscreen/search/index.php/story/334728 (Accessed 31 Jan 2025)