Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 28th, 1919. THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, JUNE 28th, 1919. THE WEEK.

It is a singular coincidence that there should have been false alarms about both the signing of the armistice and ilie peace treaty. But the signing in both instances was inevitable, for the enemy is without further power of resistance or military defence. The most that the Germans can do is to bluff, and at this game of make-believe they arc past masters. The Allies ere this have the measure of the enemy. If there were any doubts as to the honesty of the enemy, there are the latest incidents of the event at Scapn Flow and the burning of the French national (lags of 1870 which were to have given up on the signing of peace. Those actions confirm all opinions as to the futility of offering consideration in any respect to the enemy. The enemy are beyond the pale. Tt is to ho expected, therefore, that the Allies will go right ahead with the enforcement of the peace terms without any compunction. The bluff and arrogance of the enemy should not avail further to delay the inevitable, but full pressure should be put on to enforce the will of the victors. The war lias had its stages, and lias now reached a stage when decision of purpose and complete unity is more than ever necessary on the part of the Allies to impress the Teuton mind of the position. Official news of flic signing of peace may bo expected at any moment, and with the signin'/ must begin the enforcement, of the terms without the dilly-dallying methods which have marked the composition of the pence treaty. Germany can realise hut one master, and that is strength. The Allies need to he strong in peace as in war time.

Titt acuteness of tlio coal situation lias been brought home suddenly to the people of New Zealand by the decision regarding the drastic curtailment of the train services in both Islands. The shortage lias been marked for some time. In previous winters the residents of the cities and other places removed from coal centres have felt the shortage very acutely but by the disorganisation of the train services, all parts of the Dominion will bo made to realise the gravity of the situation. Tho coal famine has been something of

slow growth. Strikes have contributed to it and the curtailment of the output generally has led up to the present stringent position. Admitting that shipping has not been available to transport the fuel' to the various centres, we have to face the fact also that at Greymouth, right along side the'coalmines, and presum- { ably a congestion of coal because of a : lack of boats. Yet the townspeople have had to be rationed in the matter of i local delivery for domestic use. There ' is something wrong with the system of | production, and the Government have | delayed far too long in probing the ' situation to discover the cause of the effect flic country suffers from. It is ! not of recent growth ; it has not arisen j suddenly, because of a strike or ether ! untoward event. It lias been a menne- ' ing position for long past. The Go- . vernment saw the trouble coming and : has temporised with the position by seeking to make good the shortage witli outside imports. But the Australian supply fell off, also, and the Government lias been importing coal from the United States, utilising the returning transports—a very costly service. Still, . tlie situation was not grappled with. I For some weeks the Government has had the report of the Board of Trade before it, and only now—when the country is face to face with i crisis—is the report being made public. The report contains much, remarks an Exchange, which will surprise the people. Oppressed by high prices and uncertain supplies, many people have concluded —and the conclusion is not unnatural—that somebody in this country is making enormous and improper profits. The Board jinds that no such profits ' have been made, whether by the companies or the dealers. The annual average differences between the average ‘ selling-price per ton to the several ! mining companies range from a loss of 1/lld. to a gain of Is. lOd.; the gross ! profits of the companies averaged only 5.1. per cent., a figure which the Board 1 expressly declares is “unduly low.” 'Hie ; distributors have not been doing any : better than the mine-owners. The transport trade has been more fortunate, t , ~ -r,

For some weeks tlie Government Ilf's had the report of the Board of Trade before it, and only now—when the country is face to face with •> crisis—is the report being made public. The report contains much, remarks an Exchange, which will surprise the people. Oppressed by high prices and uncertain supplies, many people have concluded —and the conclusion is not unnatural—that somebody in this country is making enormous and improper profits. The Board jinds that no such profits have been made, whether by the companies or the dealers. The annual average differences between the average selling-price per ton to the several mining companies range from a loss of 1/lld. to a gain of Is. lOd.; the gross profits of the companies averaged only 0.1. per cent., a figure which the Board expressly declares is “unduly low.” The distributors have not been doing any better than the mine-owners. The transport trade has been more fortunate, hut the Board evidently regards their charges as fair enough. The “real wages” of the miners have -not greatly increased. The Board’s report docs not collect all these facts into one comprehensive answer to the question, “Why, then, is coal so dear?” but it declares, in effect, that in all the circumstances the prices are fair and reasonable. The truth of the matter is that the increased cost of everything has at every point added to the price of coal, with tho result that a large burden of cost is finally delivered at the householder’s door. So far as can he seen these costs are not removable except by two means : (1) An increase in the output of coal, which will obviously lessen the cost of each ton, sinec tile greater part of the retail price hi caused bv charges and expenses with the lianling of greater supplies would not materially incrpaso; and (2) an improvement of the. system of retailing.

No immediate relief is to be looked for, because the Government cannot improvise the increased local supply, the better transport' facilities, and the better system of distribution that are essential to relief. The public must therefore bo" content to make the best of the position and to give their attention to the Board’s important recommendations. Their main recommenmendation is that “some form of nationalisation” of the industry should bo established. State ownership and management of the whole industry is deprecated, on the very good grounds that it would result in a loss of enterprise and efficiency, and, ultimately, in the making the industry a burden on the other industries of ilic Dominion. Instead, it is proposed that a Dominion Coal Board of five members should b 0 set up, which would take over all the mines at a valuation, and issue stock to existing shareholders with a guarantee of a minimum rate of interest. The possible advantages of such an management arc obvious enough : they are the advantages that private enterprise has found in amalgamation and consoliStill greater advantages, from a business point of view, would result from a unified control of the distribution of coal from the mine to the consumer, especially in the final stage of the distribution. Before ibis proposal can gjjjn {icccptauco, <sutisfuctory answers must be given to many questions —whether the treatment proposed for the shareholders of mine companies is fair, whether compensation may not. bo claimed by businesses put out of action by the establishment of a Coal Board, and whether the Board will be able to avoid the danger of inferior control and management, or the danger of securing comfort for the mining .industry at the cost of other industries. We must, in short, he satisfied that the possible advantages of' unifying the. whole coal business will be realised that abundant supplies at moderate prices will really bo made available.

Not the least important or interesting parts of the report are those which discuss the position of the miners. On the whole, it would seen, the output per miner is reasonably high, although it is made clear that it could be appreciably higher if the miners worked nil to the limit of their capacity without injuring their health or depriving themselves of a proper amount of leisure. The miner’s work is hard, but ho is well paid for it—he can earn up to 30s. a day in some cases—and on the whole he is as well off, so far ns labouring conditions are concerned, as most artisans. But, in most of flic mining centres, the minor’s social environment is very unsatisfactory, and the Board attributes to the sordidness of their housing conditions and monotony of their home life much ol the inclination of the minors to disturb the peace of the industry. No doubt a. Dominion Coal Board such as is recommended could transform these social conditions, but a great deal could he done under existing arrangements if the public would agree that, better housing for miners should he a. charge on the people. In this- matter, a* in others affecting the worker generally, the country must he prepared (o take a more intimate interest. There must he a great-

er measure of personal intercourse as between master and man, whether Iho master is a private employer 01 is the State itself. It is the time now for .the new ordered world, and the changes have to bt faced.

The Minister of Lands is in Westland this week end. Like most ministerial visits the stay is a fleeting one—here to-day and gone to-morrow. The district lias every reason to complain of neglect. For three years it was without the service of a Member, and the Government took little cognisance of ■the fact. Since Mr Seddon’s return j Ministers have been more in personal ' evidence, but they have not shown that j dysire for an intimate acquaintance j with the district to learn first hand i of its potentialities, that we would hope for. The district by the efforts of the i people alone has demonstrated its adap- ! tability for pastoral pursuits, and the ! growth of settlement of late years has j been all to the advantage of the place, lit is a matter for particular regret that j tilt Minister’s itinerary does not include j a tour of South' Westland, where can be I established a dairying di tcct no less ! opulent than Taranaki, if proper access ; were provided quickly. A railway was j authorised by Parliament for the south | but the work was shelved when the prej sent Minister of Public Works entered | office. This negative act will cost the ! country dear for private enterprise lias i stepped into serve its own requirements ’ and much revenue for the State railway | will be lost. This is one of the great i offences of the Government against this district. It is as well to remind the ! Minister of Lands also that ' not an acre of land lias been secured by tUe State for soldiers in Westland. In ■ the North Island and elsewhere land 1 at high value is being purchased, but here where the Crown Estate is, nothing is done. The soldier has to fend for himself which means dearer land for the men than if the State were in the ; market and bought land in large blocks ; to CUt UU.

It is to. be hoped that the Minister of Lands is not coming here with his mind poisoned against the Westland lands. If lie had the time at liis disposal to inspect the _stock and look into the dairying returns, lie would see what the country produces in the way of j fat stock, dairy products, wool and 1 other farm produce. The quality in nil branches has proved excellent, and won renown in the world’s markets. ; The Minister who is not a stranger to the West Coast, knows that the country is heavily timbered, and in this natural product there is great wealth if the yield is intelligently handled. By the legislation of last session affecting forestry a great injustice is likely to accrue to the district, affecting local bodies, and the sawmilling industry alike, and certainly settlement which all through the history of Westland has been hampered by all kind of reservations imposed on the province. The present menace comes at a time when it was hoped the district would reap the advantage of the long years of patience with which it has waited for the piercing of the Southern Alps,. and the linking up of the West Coast Railway System with ♦lie rest of the South Island. This national work accomplished and the isolation of the Qoast will pass away and its territory will be brought into greater profit. The Coast contains a large area of Crown Lands the administration of which are in the visiting Minister’s department. His visit we hope will result in some measure of increased interest in high places in tlie future there is in store for Westland lands, if the locality gets that fair run and the square deal which other parts of New Zealand have enjoyed, hut which lias been denied in this quarter.