THE COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 36, 6 November 1919, Page 6

THE COAL CRISIS

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE

MB. MASSEY BLAMES THE MINERS

The shortage of coal and the go-slow policy at the coal mines wore discussed in the House of Representatives in the early hours of yesterday morning. Labour members of the House suggested that an excessive price had been miid by the Government to a syndicate for a coal-boarin'g area, which had been given a profit of .£28,000 on an investment of .£12,000 within a few weeks.-

The Prime Minister said he did not know the facts of this case. But in any caso exploitation of that kind was a, very small matter, as far as the general public waß concerned, compared to the burden that was being placed on tho community by the go-slow policy in the coal mines. The coal mining industry was tho koy industry of the Dominion. Almost every other industry was dependent more or less on coal. The miners themselves were suffering from the effect of tho policy, but it was poor cousolalion to know that they were cutting their own throats when at the same time they wore breaking down the other industries of the country. The go-slow policy was tho silliest and most stupid policy that had ever been devised by any body of men. It was doing no good to anyone, and it was doing an enormous amount of injury to the country generally. He did not know how long it would continue or what the miners were driving at. They seemed to have n stupid, idea that if they continued on presetit lines they would bring some concession from the employers. But they had lost more already than they would ever gain by any concession. The fact that the. Slato coal'miners were about the worst in this respect showed that tho nationalisation of tho coal mines was not a solution of the trouble. Mr. Scrapie: The State miners are tangled up with-miners working in private mines. Mr. Massey: I cannot admit that makes any difference to them. If nationalisation of coal mines is a good policy it should he possible for thoso men to stay at work. Mr. Wilford remarked that tho miners were all in one organisation. Quarrels with private coal owners naturally affected tho State miners-, since the miners moved as an organisation.l 4 _ l 4 Sir. Massey said that during the session Ac had not been able to give much attention to the coal trouble He expected soon to he able to devote some timo to the matter. It was not in the interests of the country that this sort of 'thin" should br> tolerated, and it would not be tolerated very long. The miners could not run counter to public opinion all the time. He wanted » warn those responsible for the present position of the results of their actions. Mr. Hollnnd: Don't make ' violent threats. . Mr. Massey: I am not making threats. It is my duty to protect public interests. M.r. Harris: Close the mines down. Mr. Scmple: We have no more to do with'.tho go-slow policy than you have. Mr. Massey: "I am very glad to hear that. I know that in his heart the honourable member condemns it. He must pee the folly of it. and I ask him to assist to put. an end to it. Ho will show his genuineness and sincerity if he goes to the miners and tells them they are making a very serious mistake. A very 6erious mistake is being made, and a very serious injury is being done to the rou'ntrv. Wo have, got to go outside the Dominion for the coal wo require, and pav three or four times what it would cost us under ordinary conditions to sot cnnl from our own mines. ' Mr. Massey added that he agreed the miners ought, to be well paid. But when the miners proceeded on lines that were dangerous to the country, the country and the Government had to oppose them. The miners' had not told the Government what Wis the point in dispute. ' Thev had simplv turned down Hie employers' offer of a very substantial increase and let tho matter 'stand at that. If they were candid something might he done. He would urge those men who had influence with the coal miners to assist in bringing about a better state of affairs. He did not say that fcln> mine owners wereimmaculate. Thev were as selfish as any other class of the community. But the who were exploiting the communilv and particularly Hie workers at the present timo were not the mine owners but the miners. Ho did not blame Hie rank and file of the miners as much as the leaders.

Mr. Holland said the leaders were simply carrying out tlie orders of tho rant and file. Mr. Massey: I don't agree with that. The leaders should, tell the workers the truth and show them what damage they are doing. Mr. P. Frasev said that the go-slow policv was a form of the strike weapon. 'Die -Prime Minister would not end tho troub'o by lecturing the miners, who wore fighting for what, they regarded as their rights. Mr. Massey said that Britain's conimerei.il supremacy was being threatened l>v kick of coal. Horn in Now Zealand there was immediate need for increased, production in order that war damage might lie repaired and war burdens carried snfelv. Kveiy class was called upon to make an effort,' and the one doss that, was hanging buck was the miners. He appealed" to the leaders of tho miners to try lo improve, the situation. Mr. Holland said the position was that the minors were asking for a conference and the mine owners were refusing it. Sir James Allen: How many conferonees do you want? You have had one. Mr. Holland said that tho go-filow policy was a. form of the striko._ Men who were working on contract did not lightly cut down their own earnings. The fact that they were doing so showed that there was .1 great principla nt stake. The Prime Minister ought to bring the parties together. The miners might, bo wrong, but the mine owners certainly were wrong. Tho miners might bo mistaken in their' tactics, but the mine ownors were quite unconcerned about Hie welfare of the people of this country. Mr H. G. Ml said the consumer had a right to be considered in this matter, (near, hear.) Would Mr. Holland 101 l the House what wages tho miners were earning now? W.ero they earning a fair wage, sufficient to provide a decent standard of comfort for themselves and their families? . Mr. Holland: They are certainly earning far more than they get. Mr. Ell: That is evasive. Why cannot the honourable member be honest and. fair? The question was whether the minors were receiving a fair wage. Mr.' Fraser: They are not receiving what' they want. They are the 'best judges of their requirements. Mr. Ell: The community has a right to bo heard. Mr. Veitch asked if the Government had any definite scheme for increasing the production of coal. If a shortage of miners was tho real problem, what did tli<; Government intend to do? Had it any plan for attracting nioro men to tho mines? Mr. Somple said tho Labour members had nothing to do with tho go-slow policy. Mr. Massey: What I think is that thev have a great deal of influence, and ought to uso it. Mr. Semple: The miners mind their own business in their own way. Mr. EU: No man in a. public position can escape his share of responsibility. Mr. Holland: T am here to stand in with (bom every lime I hey make a fight Mr. Sample neaiu uvwl the Governiv.cnt to bring the parties together.