The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 3, 1948. THE MINERS MORE THAN MAKE GOOD

Grey River Argus, 3 June 1948, Page 4

The Grey River Argus THURSDAY, June 3, 1948. THE MINERS MORE THAN MAKE GOOD

W’HEN the seven-hour day was some time ago promised to the coal-miners, it occasioned much comment, as the need of coal at the time was such as to justify every possible inducement for the maintenance of output. But as soon as it came to carrying.out this undertaking, and ever since it was fulfieUcd a couple of months ago there have been complaints from! opponents of the Government that the present is not the time for any step likely to lessen production. It also has been contended that the industry could be manned quite adequately at the ruling rates of payment, and that any difficulty in meeting the greatly increased demand for the commodity arose from State enterprise, and its extension. In other countries, some without such enterprise and others with its more advent, the increase in demand has 'failed, to be equated in relatively a greater proportion than in New Zealand. The result has been that industrialists and other consumers have been ready for any expedi-

ent which would augment supply. Had the critics of the shortening of underground working time been asked to forecast output last March, it is doubtful if any would have predicted an increase in the first month of the sevenhour day up to almost a quarter of a million tons, or more than fifty thousand tons in excess of the'figure for the same month in the previous year. Apart from the effect of the shortened working day, the output has-been well maintained during the four months of the year reaching about nine hundred thousand tons, and being more than eighty five thousand tons greater than for the same period last year. It may be said that the industry is now on a footing such as should attract a fully adequate labour supply, and holds out the promise, with open-east and other improvements planned by the Government that the expanding industrial activity in other directions will be able to rely on expanding fuel supply. The miners have certainly made good the pledge given on their b'ehalf that output would not suffer through the amelioriation of their conditions which the seven-hour day represents. It is of good import that the enlarged output should mean greater remuneration, for the earnings of the miners will be laid out in general to the advantage of the whole community. The Minister of Mines is fully warranted in taking as the best I reply to the critics of the Government’s policy the actual result—an increase in output, for one month; of more than 50,000 tons to nearly a quarter of a million tons and advance of output in four months to about nine hundred thousand tons.

INTEREST IN FORESTRY

JT is encouraging- that local sawmillers should display an interest in the location of the proposed School of Forestry, which is desired by Canterbury, as well as by Auckland and Otago. Professor Wadham, as an expert in the matter has recommended Auckland University College, and in contesting his wisdom the spokesmen of local sawmillers should go at least the length of discussing his reasons,.as well as defin'ing their own reasons for preferring Canterbury College. Presumably the latter is considered to be nearer the areas more probably destined for indigenous timbers.* and because it was a generation ago intended to train foresters in Canterbury. Yet the matter has been since allowed to remain in abeyance until the choice of Auckland was recommended, whereas it is to be presumed that meantime more in the matter of a forestry school has been fostered in Auckland. Some points deserve to be noted. Afforestation, almost wholly with exotic trees, has in far the greatest degree been carried out in the Auckland region. It is only that example, which has been successful, which, has been followed in the Nelson and Canterbury districts. Voices in the wilderness of this*island have been raised for regeneration of native forests, but millers have wasted no energy in responding. Nobody denies the superiority of indegenous over exotic trees for timber, but as regards growth and volume of output it is quite another matter. It is arguable th,at eventually more, exotic than indigenous timber will be used in the country, because so little has yet been done to regenerate native forests. Canterbury students of the subject, notably Mr Foweraker, have shown a really intelligent irritative though little has since been done to make use of the data secured. It is scarcely of any help to say exotic timber like pinus insignus, is a drug on the market, because the fact is that it certainly is on the market and the use of it is steadily extending, as Canterbury millers could verify. To be taken , seriously our West Coast millers must avoid any semblance of a dog in the manger attitude and must rather' unite to demonstrate that our na-. five forests can and should be regenerated ere it is too late.