A SORRY RECORD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 3, 11 September 1942, Page 4

A SORRY RECORD

WHEN,, if it ever is recorded, in the post war years to comc, our war effort is written it will present a sorry tabulation of strikes, hold-up, and* labour disputes. This in a country governed by Labour's own indulgent representatives and at a time the most critical in our history is, as the Minister for Mines, has it —incomprehensible. The story of our coal mines will probably be the blackest of all and the most recent demonstration of 'loyalty' by the Waikato miners is likely to rank with 'sabotage,' when we consider the state of emergency in which this country is now placed. How many times Ministers of the Crown have had to 'appeal' to our workers during the course of the war would be interesting to know, but i,t would appear almost beyond doubt that many of our greater unions are merely taking advantage of the country's precarious position to bludgeon their way to still higher pay and greater advantages, seizing upon the most trivial incidents in order to find an excuse for their ends. Everyone recognises the fact that the coal miners calling, entails working under the worst conditions possible. Everyone realises too that every effort has been made to compensate, him for this very reason. The industry has been declared an essential one,, and the award commands higher pay and greater concessions than most. The men have been the objects of especial interest of the Labour Government, several of whose members, were at one time miners themselves. It would appear however that even the indulgence of their own Government, or the country s exposure to danger can have any effect upon these men or at least a certain class of them with dictatorial powers. It is interesting to reflect upon the probable methods of correction which would be adopted by Hitler under the same circumstances.