MINER IN COUNCIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1921, Page 1

MINER IN COUNCIL.

INTERESTING MAIDEN SPEECH. WELLINGTON. Sei.t. 27 The lirsl working (oal-miner ever ap- " in! J 111 ill.' i.egislal ive ( Oiliu il. the Hon W. 11. M’lntvie. "i Millortoii, gj v ■ his maiden -peoeh G'j . altcrnooii. lie said the miner was hy 110 moans as black 11- lie was generally painted, and went till in indicate the means by which i h,. miller's eunditions could l>c ioiP’lived and his uiilpul ihen'ln iui leased. IL' forecasted that Pietoii would hecoine the naval base ol New Zealand, and iheretore ':e urged the Govern incut to link Pietoii hv rai l with Iho Riuller district and the ennlliehls, so Hint in lime of war it would he i 111 possible for an enemy to out "fl the Paeilie squadron's eoal supply. Unfortunately, said Mi M’lutyre, lie importance of the cnal-miiiine. ind 11st ry |.;id not. 1 e, 11 snllieienl ly ivali-ed in the |.a-t. More should lmv heen done In encourage the opening up nf new mines A 'lousing scheme Inr miners s'uiuld have heen evolved. A mail eimlil tint he epn'leiited when lie was lit ing in hiseomfnri: in a slmek. A siiperatinua'.inll selieme fur miners should have been introduced. One other tliiii", tli.- Government should have done, .lethal was lo have assisted co-operative miners financially and hy the gianling of uecessarv material. The more Hie

- ’ - . . eo-operalive miners were assisted the better for Hie cuunlry. lor a niaii on eo-iiperativi' mining pr, ul mi’il n>"re than his fellow on wages. Mr M’lntyre spoke ul the pies*mt depression in ihe enal-miiing industry w hi. ii. he said. liad heen hrnuglil about le large iuipniT.itions. A niemher: It "as the fault ol Hie

nimers. Mr M’ I lit vie admitted that there might lie some lespoiisil'iliiy on the leaders, hut there enuhl he no doubt that importation* l ,; ol ht-on N overdiine. It bad not been reiile >tl that a great part nf tin -time siiortwas due to seaicity of "liners. wTiilh had now been oveicoine. lie urged the Governnieui to prohibit the importation ol go.tl until *toi ~l‘ been depleted -uliieielltly to elialilo all the min's in the country to go' 1,1 full swing again. Manv people. Mr M’lnlw" added. .(."iir led the miner as an 1 ■niua"!. unleasniiahle, lazv and sellisl, individual, who struck nil the slightest leason or wiihoiit any reason. Tha- was quite a wroii" impression. Any Minister ol the Ci nw 11 Who had t Kited tbe '"iinii.g districts would Lear him out when lie s-,id the miners were a quile nice "t uf fellows, who were 'lenesl. sole,' and verv indust ri<ms and intelligent nii'i'i bars lII' the eoniniunil \. Must ni tmui came from a lighting rare and "*‘ie verv loyal to " eir organis-iti'.ii. Kometim'e- ll ey migl'i iU’l g'e’ tl • best re-s-'l". l 111 o'.lgli U'-': gel'”': Lie IM Ml at Ha- bead . ' alVnirs. but v.-n e tbose ini’ll weie at Hie bead ol 11 nr"'!! liisa I ien I lie miners would stick to them. Eiimllv lie asked hi- hear,no to believe that the miner eai "e i he got ill H e fl-.-- nil ’ 1 el'.. Ill,’ ’ >-l 'lit i"„s. to any ':- ll "' " '"" i H! v: -v I'ig I out cast I'elweell tile - f - <*o per ton paid le t lie miner and the L'l odd per ten I m .ml,lie 1.1 Wellinglnii. KTfT- :r. .25-' | >,.p lidiihli' w orm it mi'd .-'Vi AIM. •■> 1 WORM FIGS. Children LL-' U• n.