The Dominion. MONDAY. AUGUST 30, 1920. THE COAL INDUSTRY DISPUTE
Second thoughts may suggest to the ooal-miners of the Dominion the wisdom of reconsidering their reported decision to resort again to "go-slow" tactics until their dictated settlement of points in dispute at three small mines is accepted by the employers. The one thing clearly established in regard to the .questions in dispute, apart from their triviality, is that there need not be the slightest difficulty in bringing them to an equitable settlement. Owing to the 1 involved and technical character of these questions, no uninstructcd_ outsider can pronounce an opinion on their merits, but they are certainly small—they involve only a few hundred pounds per annum—and it is monstrous that as the outcome of a petty disagreement of this kind the public should even be threatened with the widespread loss and hardship incidental to a coal famine. The effects of an inadequate supply 'of coal have .been felt of late in far-reaching industrial dislocation and in almost universal loss and inconvenience. At the same time the problem of coal supply has been so fully discussed that no one can be unaware that another period of "goslow" in the mines, still more a general strike, would produce disastrous results. An early cut in railway services, unemployment i'J many industries, and acute Hardships in almost every household are items of the Mai that, will be _in prospect should the miners persist in their. present attitude. Where the road to a settlement is perfectly open, however, it oupht not to be necessary even to mention thes" ermsoquences of action which would be as disastrous to the, miners a* to the rest- of the community. There is no doubt that, a settlement will quite easily be arranged if both parties. take common-sense steps to that end.
Since the miners and their employers have failed to arrive at a settlement by negotiation, the obvious remedy is to submit the questions -at issue to an impartial arbitrator As a matter of fact such an arbitrator, in the person of Mr. P. Hally,'is now in the_ South Island completing the investigations which will enable him to give a decision on the several , questions raised'. While the miners aro threatening to "go slow," and as information stands aro already restricting the output in a number of mines, the attitude of the colliery owners is defined in a statement by their official representative, Mr. W. Pryor. He states that the employers have repeatedly offered "to accept the decision of any ' independent chairman, from the Prime Minister down,'' and adds: "On behalf of the employers concerned. I will guarantee that if the parties cannot arrive at an agreement, tho employers will accept the decision of Mr. Hally on all the points in dispute." Mr. Pryor's statement does, not apply to the Mataura mine, the proprietors of which are not members of the _ Mine Owners' Federation, _ but in the case of that pit, as _of others, impartial arbitration, in the absence of agreement, offers the only rational method of promoting a settlement. Taking their own professions as a guide, the miners ■'ought to be at least as ready as the employers to accept the decision of an arbitrator. They contend that the national agreement concluded in February last is not being fairly interpreted by the employers. If they are in the right in this contention then impartial arbitration (with the employers pledged to accept the decision given by the .arbitrator) offers them an assured' remedy of tltf.ir grievance. That they prefer, instead of relying upon this remedy, to threaten and adopt belligerent tactics exposes them to a charge of insincerity. _ They have themselves to thank if it is assumed on the facts in sight that they are so little confident of the justice of their case that they arc determined to reject arbitration or any other settlement but one dictated bv themselves. The merits of the small questions in. dispute, stated in contradictory versions by the contending parties, cannot be set before the public. The merits of tlw very much greater and graver question raised by the attitude of the Miners' Federation are self-apparent. If that body eloMp every approach to the equitable settlement that might so easily be arranged it will stand convicted of using a petty dispute as a pretext for stirring un disastrous indnstria l strife and inflicting serious distress on the whole nonulation.
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 288, 30 August 1920, Page 4
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736The Dominion. MONDAY. AUGUST 30, 1920. THE COAL INDUSTRY DISPUTE Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 288, 30 August 1920, Page 4
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