NO COMPROMISE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 8

NO COMPROMISE

■The spokesmen of the coal-miners on strike are reported in to-day's telegrams to have stated that so far as the miners are concerned there will be no compromise whatever. That is to say that unless the law of the country, which alone enables New Zealand to send the reinforcements necessary to relievo our men fighting our battles ah.d laying down their lives for us in France .'is repealed,, the miners will do everything that lies ' within their power to cripple arid paralyse the efforts of their countrymen in this war of liberty. The coal-miners' spokesmen say there can be no compromise ■ on this .question so far as the miners are concerned. We say it would be to the everlasting shame of New Zealand if its Government and people dared for one moment to contemplate any form of compromiso with mon so utterly lost to any sense of justice, of duty to their country, and of obligation to the men who are laying down then - lives for them in France and Asia Minor. It is possible! "nay probable, that many of *-tho miners do not realise tho base treachery to their countrymen which underlies their action in cutting off. the* country's coal supplies; there are many more who thoroughly disappiove of it. But by open ballot—the, decision apparently was not.arrived.at by.a means which would prevent the possibility of the intimidation and victimisation of those who wished to vote to resume work—the vote has been cast for a continuation of the_ strike. The attitude, of the coal-miners is as clear as it is shameful. They offer the country one of two alternatives. They.,say .Parliament and people must bend to their .will and repeal the Military Service Act, and thereby help the enemy by cutting off the necessary supply of reinforcements for our men at the front. In the alternative, they say they will.cut off the country's coal supply, and by so doing they will interfero with the dispatch of .reinforcements, and help the enemy at the expense of their own countrymen in the fighting lines. It will be plain to everyone that either of these two courses if adopted must prove of advantage to the enemy and detrimental to the.cause of the people of New Zealand. It is equally clear, therefore, that neither can be tolerated without a base betrayal of our honourable obligations as well as our national interests.

'It is natural that the suspicion should oxist that behind the action of the miners is a foul intrigue directed by agents of our enemies. Tho miners may bo dupes, the tools of .clever German. or German-paid agents, or they may not. It is certain, however, that they are playing Germany's game. Moreover, apart from its effect on our war efforts, their action if not countered will .bring immediate loss and suffering to thousands of people in New Zealand who have never done the slightest injury to the" miners or ever thought of doing so. This is not an industrial dispute. There is no cmestion of hours, or working conditions or wages involved. It is a direct refusal to recognise the powers arid the rights of Parliament to pass laws for tho' safety and security of the people. It is a iefianco of and a challenge to Parliament and people to carry on the government of the country by the recognised constitutional moans. The duty of tho Government is selfevident. There can bo no parleying with men who cling to and hamper their country's sword-arm in time of war.- The mines must bo worked, by volunteer labour if the miners cannot bo brought to reason, and whatever force is necessary to obviate lawlessness and maintain order must bo unhesitatingly employed. Tho duty of the people of tho Dominion is cnually clear! Tt is their duty in this crisis not to | lend merely passive support to whatever measures the Government may i take in order to keep a vital in-1

dustry going, but to strive by all lawful means an their power, to crush and defeat the lawless and disloyal effort of the miners. Two fields of action arc visibly open. There should be a ready response to whatever call is made for volun-, teer labour, and the internal affairs and consumption of the country should be so regulated that activities directly tearing upon the prosecution of the war may be as little as possible hampered by shortage of coal and indirect troubles resulting from that_ shortage.' To this end local bodies throughout the country and private firms and individuals as well should be very willing to incur whatever sacrifices arc- possible and necessary. In addition it is to bo hoped that thpre will bo a spontaneous expression of public opinion, which will 6peedily show the striking miners where they stand in relation to their, country and its part in the war.