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Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1919, Page 2

Thf smoothness with which the session is running is giving some solace to the Reform element, which was so much perturbed when Sir Joseph Ward broke away from what appears to have been a rather irksome alliance to him, finding himself, as he did, not consulted r.n important policy questions. Many ;i the Reform press writers saw green •,i once, being fearful of an unholy alliance between Liberals and Labor to put Reform out of office forthwith. When opportunity served, Sir Joseph spoke words of some comfort but the conjurers of evil were not alsogether satis fied. Again, when the Libersls let the lAddress-in-Reply debate go by tlie board and so gave the opportunity for Reform to get on with the business of the session, some of the press critics were again unsatisfied that Sir Joseph had not contributed to the debate, though it was given out that he Kva.s indisposed. However, a degree of satisfaction came when the Liberals did not ally themselves with Labor on th c no confidence motion. Most of the Liberals preferred to walk out of the House, but some of the ex-Liberal Ministers stayed to vote with their late (Colleagues. In this latest expression of good-feeling there are those vylio see the prospects of a fusion being realised ultimately between the non-ex-treme sections of the two parties. No material advance to sucli an end can be guaged even, till the Reform policy is disclosed. This may be looked for it, tlie Financial Statement which Sir James Allen is preparing now. Till that document comes down it would be idle to speculate how far it is possible for an * degree of fusion to be brought about

Opinions for anti against the principle of nationalisation of the coal mines, as recommended by the Parliamentary Industries Committee, are publishd by the Auckland Herald. The disadvantages of nationalisation were discussed by the Hon. E. AY. Alison, a member of the executive of the New Zealand Coal Mine-owners’ Association. He said the bwners opposed nationalisation from the point of view of both themselves and the public, for the following rea-sons-—lt would do away with private enterprise. Under State Control the coal measures were not likely to be exploited and the coal areas developed with the same degree of activity and persistence. The history of coalmining in the Auckland district showed conclusively that coal mining had, on the whole, been anything but a profitable venture. Since tbe first mine was opened 32 companies had been founded,, and of that number only five now remained. Practically the whole of the capital invested in the remaining 27 had been lost. In regard to the actual management of the mines, new and improved methods of working and latest inventions and improvements in machinery would not bo so readily adopted under Government regulations as m private enterprises, nor would there be tho same stimulus to economy and reduction of excessive staffs. Mr Alison said (that, in bis opinion, nationalisation of the existing mines would not overcome, but increase the industrial unrest. Support is given to the proposal for tho nationalisation of the mines by Mr J. Boddie, chairman of the Auckland Provincial Farmers’ Union. He said that as a result of close observation of tbe circumstances of. the coal industry, be felt that this was an undertaking that more than any other jusj tiified State Control. “By no other [ means that I can see,” Mr Boddie continued, “are we likely to obtain the I necessary amelioration of the conditions ! of tho miners. Tho surroundings of the miners that I have any knowledge of

are far from ideal. Tlieir occupation underground is anything but congenial, and they have a right to expect that when they are out of the mines the' living condition of their families and themselves should be better than they are at present. Th e coal industry is so closely related to other industries, and old methods have proved so unsatisfactory that I would favour giving gtnt e Control a trial.”