NOTES AND COMMENTS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 105, 28 January 1943, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS

Il musl be very disi-oiuerlinK to the Goveriiinenl. iiml especially io the Minister of Mines, lo find the miners on the llmitly Held still addicted to Inkinir days off for trivial reasons. During' the last week or iwo the McDonald mine was idle for a day, lhe men returning' home as a protest against the management dcducling an hour from lhe limcsheels ol the day-wage men. They are said lo have held Iwo stop-work meetings which together lasted for nearly an hour and lhe agreement provides tor a reduction in such eireumsiam-es. Then last week lhe Renown mine was idle for a day, and it' was .■-tilled that the mien had held .a stop-work meeting which did not finish until Id u.m. It was then considered too late lo enter the mine. Developments of Ihis miliire must be more than displeasing to the authorities. They mean a redr.ciimi in the possible output, of coal, but further they indicate lluil the old practices are being retained by the miners, Stale innmigenient not wit hsl a mliiig.

Streel collections have been numerous of late years, and the public response has.been consistently generous. There are many good eause.s that deserve support and no need for any differentiation. Il would be impossible (o place them in an aeeepied order of merit, and tbe public has made no attempt to do so. Today lhe appeal is for the Navy League and lhe British Sailors’ Society, lo emible those organizations lo do everything they can for lhe comfort ami assislam-o of lhe men who go down lo the sea in ships in particularly damieroiis Mays The ships of the Navy have indeed been lhe sure shield id’ ibis Dominion and whal we owe lo their never-ceasing vigi-

lance will ho told some day. bul enough is known to cause gratitude for a service that has been proved through lhe years ol- war. lhe merchant marine has carried on in a maimer which Ims more Ilina maintained its fine traditions, ami no unit of lhe Empire Ims more cause for thankfulness and appreciation of the splendid service rendered limn New Zealand. Despite treniendous difficulties anil innumerable perils lhe overseas li'.-ule of the country lias hcen kept going in a manner that has exceeded all expectations. And because of II New Zealand has been a lo provide tbe Mother Country with foodsliiffs and raw imileria'ls that were urgently ijeeded. These are lhe silent services, but Hie appeal made today affords those who have en joyed Hie protection and the facilities of our Navy and merchant marine .-in opportunity to show llml wlml they have done and whal I hey are doing are both fully aiiprecia led.