OUR COAL MINES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1921, Page 1

OUR COAL MINES

THE DISCONTENTED MINER. (By Carbon in tbe Sydney Herald). A very different character to opr last study is much in evidence before every student of tbe coal miner, and it is not bis own fault if be is not accepted as the type of bis class by the average spectator. He is met with in railway carriages, tacecourses, picture shows, coming from his work with “the black” on, or in tailor-made clothes and clean shave on pay Saturday in bis nearest town. He is beard, in season and out of season, arguing tbe point with all and sundry who may be prevailed upon to Hale political opinions the opposite oi his own, to give him the pleasure of demolishing these opinions, to bis own satisfaction. He shines at quotation or misquotation of statements in tbe morning newspapers. He will read these statements intelligently, but if he afterwards bears them misquoted lie will repeat the misquotation as of bis own reading. Wo may consider the ! genesis of this type later; for the pre- ] sent we present him as be is, and as , a factor-in dealing with the question of , our nation’s welfare, in tbe continuous j ami fervent appeal for more produo- ? lion.

Of ail classes of miners be is most pronounced in asserting tbe sole owners' ip rights in tbe world’s coal resources of the man who has learned bow to cut coal, lie revels in bis power to maintain this claim by stopping tbe wheels of industry as a punishment for any expressed doubt. Ask bis consideration of unmerited suffering amongst those in idleness enforced by bis refusal to work tbe pit, and be will admit that necessity is to be tempered with sympathy aild regret, but, drawing attention to his own sufferings in the cause, be will talk glibly of tbe country being in a state of war, and tbe innocent must then suffer with tbe guilty. That tbe dispute lias a moral aspect be will not admit, unless it is to apply that gauge to the actions of “the proprietors”—lie will not style them

“masters” now. At bis work be is no slacker, (‘specially if he and bis mate have drawn a good “place.” If liot, none so keen tvs be to so manipulate his output that be may claim a “deficiency place.” If work comparing with that put forth in t! e last “cavil” would produce two or V roc shillings a day more than tbe "minimum wage,” lie will cheerfully sacrifice that to “best tbe boss” and establish the claim of those who follow him. to loaf a bit, in a new “deficiency place.” He will applaud tbe claim for a daily wage, and a five-day week, in place of ;t system which endows the cralminer with an independence rendering him tbe envy of bis fellow workers in any other trade. And should one of tbe steady, clear-visioned men cast a doubt upon tbe wisdom of surrendering the contract system for the position of a "wage slave*," be will

‘urinush attach Ids opponent's motives until lie drives him from the ground •.villi showers of epithets, the reverse of .• niplimentary. To a student of the c( nlminer. it is not a little pimling to tind men, certainly not below the average in intelligence, so utterly silenced in any expression of unfettered judgment of policy once the '“Federation” has made its statement. And the class

of miners we are considering provides the happy hunting-ground for the Bolshevist from oversea. The man who can talk the loudest about Ids grievances, and the iniquities of the proprietors, gets Ids vote every time. He shares bis denunciation amongst all who are outside the ranks ol the manual workers, with the man ‘‘on the coal” in the innermost circle. He casts storekeepers, farmers, ministers of religion ,shipowners, employers of labour i f every variety into outer darkness. Kvery thing and every .one in church end State lie is “up against.” He has not forgotten the Conscription Referendum, and lie has “no time lor” returned soldiers. During the war he was pronounced in his opposition to all expressions of loyalty, and the singing of the National Anthem was anathema. He “lias it in for” every public man, politician or preacher, who dared to support the movement for conscription. That this man is not in the majority amongst the coal workers, is proved by the number of miners and miners’ sons who went to the war, and the hearty greetings given in the welcomes home. It is the facility of expression and the loudness of it which gives force to the propaganda of this clement in the mining community. There is no doubting its existence. Il is freely stated of one miner that, being the conductor of a men’s voice party, lie would leave his choir to sing the National Anthem at the close of a concert, while bo was very busy getting the music together before the curtain fell. Another gave ii]> bis position as organist in a church rather than play it. ft must bo remembered that many of these men are industrious, and often the steadiest of workers in or about a mine. The loader for whom the country is waiting, who can make them think for themselves, and have the courage.to think aloud, is essential. The coalminer is not the only one who has his thinking done for him, it may be, but there are lew men who allow such check upon original thinking, or the expression of it; except indirectly, in personal criticism of the officer making his report to a “general meeting.”

The unquestioning allegiance • which our friend gives to the pronouncement of “The Federation,” would, lend the superficial observer to conclude that he is lacking in intelligence, and fails to weigh the pros and cons of a position clearly- This idea does not meet all the facts of the case. The narrow space in which he works, the dimness of his working surroundings in the scanty light of the safety lamp, may narrow the groove of his thoughts, and carry dimness of vision into outside living. It may be that the close asso-