The Go-Slow Policy.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15869, 7 April 1917, Page 8

The Go-Slow Policy.

It is not permissible to comment upon tho position of those union officials who havo been arrested under tho War Regulations Act, but we can at least say that we arc glad of this ovidence that the Government are in a mood to take vigorous action in defence of tho public welfare. At Dunedin, as we reported on Thursday, the Acting-Prime Minister spoke very emphatically on this point. "Tho Government," he said, "are determined —solidly deter- " mined—to do everything they can to "do away with the pernicious habit "that is getting into the country of " men working slow." Sir James Allen can rest assured that he has behind him the full force of public opinion, with which the Government can do almost anything as surely as without it they can do little that is effective. The public are very willing at all tiroes to see the men's sido in any industrial trouble, and to excuse much that is wrong in the men's methods if their grievances are real. In tho case of the coal-minors there is no real grievance at all." Tho conditions in coal mines are certainly as fair and good as any miner can desire, and tho pay is high— so high that even by going slow and reducing their output the men can earn oxccllent wages. There is nothing in the coal-miners' case to obtain any sympathy for them, and as a matter of fact wo aro convinced that tho vast majority of the people, of all classes, are thoroughly angry with them. At all times tho policy of "ca' canny" offends people who would not be antagonised by a policy of simplo striking, but at the present time that policy is a crime. To tho plain man the policy of deliberately restricting tho output of coal, when coal is urgently wanted for tho effectivo discharge by New Zealand of its obligations in this war, presents no essential points ot difference from'mutiny or desertion on the field of battle. It is just as important that tho coal-miners shall do their work honestly and capably as that our soldiers in France shall do their duty as soldiers. There is no doubt that the men at the mincfS affected have been deliberately aiming at creating a shortage of coal 4 with the actual inten-

tion of embarrassing New Zealand and impairing the national efficiency. So far as wo can see, there is nothing that the men can hope to gain for themselves by this treacherous conduct; it appears to bo treason for treason's sake, and the public and the Government cannot err in treating it as such. Tlie Germans aro happily unable to operate directly, in any way whatever, in this country, but wo all know what they would do if they could and what they would like to see done. They would like to see a cessation or interruption of our supply of soldiers, and they would also like to see problems of transport accentuated in order to impair or cut off the commercial communications between New Zealand and Great Britain. Tin's they would seek to do, if they could, by causing the coal-miners to reduce their output and go on strike. That is to say, they would induce the coal-miners to tako up exactly the attitude which they havo as a matter of fact taken up. The public and the Government can make no terms with men so disloyal as thus to play Germany's game, and the public will certainly support the Government in any steps whatever that they may tako to deal with the situation. The stronger and more drastic the action, wo venture to say, tho more rea-dy and emphatic will be the public's approval.