COAL MINERS' PLEDGE

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1946, Page 4

COAL MINERS' PLEDGE

-Press Association

Will Work To Save Labour's Face i: prime mlnister's appeal

By Telegraph—

AUCKLAND, July 7. Coab minfei's wlio praetically filled the Huntly Town Hall this morning', raised their right hands in a pledgo to the Prime Minister, Hon P. Fraser, that they would produce more eoal to the "best oi their ability and eliminate stoi> pages in the next few months. A continuation of the present eoal shortage, as well as disastrously handicnpping the whole country, might damage the Government 's chances at the election in November, said Mr. Fraser. Unless sufficient eoal was produeed : every section o£ the eommunity suffered: It was proving difficult to keep up the struclure of hetter eonditions which -the Labour Government had introduced unless the industries of the country could he maintained in full production. The Government had built up the best social structure in the world, but this could topple down if industries did not keep functioning. "The next election will prove the Waterloo of either the Nationalists or of the Labour Party," said the Prime Minister. "There ■ is a grave danger that Labour may lose votes and even face a reverse. "Arguments between worke.rs are the greatest tragedy we have today. Workers" in one section should find a way to adjust thiugs .with other seetions of their industry. I want everyone to reaL ise that with our new economic distribution of the country 's wealth, unless we have industry carried on efficiently with the maximum being produeed and as few interruptions as possible, we cannot succeed."