THE MISREPRESENTED MINER

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 3, 28 September 1921, Page 8

THE MISREPRESENTED MINER

AN M.L.C.’S APPRECIATION. As otio with long, practical experience of coal mining, Mr. W. H. M'lntyre, who seconded the motion for the Ad-dress-in-Reply in the Legislative .Council yesterday, told his fellow-councillors that no section of the community was more misunderstood than that comprising the coal miners. There was a general impression, apparently. that the coal miner was lazy and ignorant, and ready to strike or "go slow” on the very slightest provocation. Ho gave his assurance that the impression was quite wrong, and that on the contrary tho miner in general was sober, industrious, and intelligent. Many of the social and industrial reforms on the Statute Book of this country emanated from tho miners. The most, prominent of these was perhaps the eight-hour day. The miners were very loyal to their organisation. It was a religion with them. A man not loyal to the organisation would "cut very little ice” in the coal districts. A miner working nt tho faco earned what ho got, Mr. M'lntyre added. He got 3s. 6(1. a ton for the coal, and' he had Io hew and fill it, use his own tools, and provide his own light. Contrasted with the price of coal in Wellington, tho earnings of the minor did not seem very large. It might bo of interest to tho council to know that the speaker paid 3s. a ton for coal. That might not be the selling price, but it was considerably lower than tho £3 odd that tho general public paid.