The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, APRIL 8th., 1922, THE WEEK.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 April 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian SATURDAY, APRIL Bth., 1922, THE WEEK.

The publication of the figures relating to the voting of the Postal and Telegraph Officials Association in respect. to affiliation with the ’Alliance of Labour, which is the militant body of unionism, has caused considerable (mmm

mu. it is a departure which cannot !>e regarded with equanimity for there arc far-reaching possibilities linked up with the step. If it is good for one Government Department to become tints linked up with militant labor, it is good for another and with this in mind it would 1 not be impossible for the Police Department,, to become a part of the Alliance of Labor. The police stand for law and order. The seduction of the force responsible for law and order would thus be possible and so we would see the very foundation of democratic government undermined. for instead of the police guarding the rights and liberties of the people as a whole they would devote their attention solely to the cause of one section, and we would enter on a phase of government akin to that which has brought disaster on the Russian nation. In the same way, to stick to the present reality, we would have the Post and Telegraph system subverted to the cause of militant labor. Being in the Alliance if they are to play the game, and do for others as they would have the Alliance do for them, then the officials must co-ope-rate in nny strike methods which the Alliance seeks to place upon the people as a whole, and the whole value of the service to the public would be nil indeed it would become a serious menace to the public weal.

The officers of the Association in their expressed defence of the attitude taken up by the Association rather admit all this. Mr Combs (the Secretary) for instance in maintaining the oath of secrecy will not be violated, is careful to confine his reference only to “private and commercial business. He does not safeguard the ‘‘public business wb/icb is lbe very essential matter in the time of a strike. For instance, assuming there were trouble in our centre, and it were necessary to secure additional force from an adjoining town to help maintain order, what would he. the attitude of the officials allied to the Alliance who had to despatch the message! They could not serve two masters. They would have to decide for or against those causing the trouble—those who were their own compatriots in the Labor difficulty at the moment. It will be seen from this possibility that the Postal and Telegraph Association could be more useful; to the 1 Alliance than the latter could be to the former, and that there will be more occasion for the Alliance to call on the Association for help than vice versa. And when the Alliance does call on the Association; which compact will the latter break—the oath of secrecy regarding the public service, or its affiliation with the militant Alliance? If this be correct and it seems to be the only logical deduction, then it is not surprising to find Mr Combs omitting “public business” from the reservations of the loath of secrecy. Secrecy in regard to private or commercial business would not be very material if trouble were in hand, but the public welfare would be endangered. Absolutely if tlie Association is permitted to ally itself, with such a militant force as that of organised Labor in one big union.

The Assistant Secretary to the Association (Mr Brown) has also stressed the point at issue, and he assumes that “industrial trouble” will be a possibility, but proceeds to state that the secrecy of the oath will be maintained. Mr Brown, however, is looking at the issue in cold blood. When the blood is up, and conditions arise—as they are quite possible to do—and militant labor, w;ill be in the throes of a desperate position, it is quite conceivable that in that hour of stress and probable defeat, some member or members of the Association, will put their own affairs before public duty, and if it happened in but one instance, that might be crucial enough to determine serious consequences. The whole subject is wrapped up in such, difficult tiircumsitancos 'that if the Association is to be of permanent value to the people as a whole who pay for it, must be kept absolutely apart from any such alliance as that foreshadowed this week. The Premier ha g spoken on the subject, but Mr Massey can afford to be more plain spoken than he has been. The present is not a time for indefiniteness or weakness.. It would be just as well if the whole situation wer e made perfectly plain, not only to the Postal and Telegraph Association but to the Public Service as a whole. Mr Massey has the opportunity of establishing himself more firmly than ever in the country if he handles this question as the circumstances appear to call for, and apart from his own aggrandisement he will | do the Dominion as a whole service of highest value, by saving it from the designs of its radical public servants.

It is difficult to understand just why the Rimu dredging operations are the bete noire of the gold-mining jquid ’nuncs in this Dominion. Reference has been made previously to the criticisms of an. Otago paper, and now we have the matter brought up again by the Ifon. Minister of Mines. Mr Anderson at Kumara expressed himsolf as not at all friendly to the American project which is turning out so successfully, As to the measure < success wo Indies fed some time ago M ratine tat Falmmy was

800 ozs. Fo r March We believe the total was DOOozs—6oo of which were obtained in some ten working days. The return would have been even larger than 900 ozs, but for some trouble with the buckets. But these delays are incidental to dredging, though it must be confessed that in regard to Rimu operations, the delays are less frequent alld pfbti'actdd than was the case in the former dredging days. However, the outstanding fact is that the great enterprise—for it is a great enterprise, succeeding when others /failed, —is a financial success. Just why there should be the jealous remarks there are in regard to Rimu I workings we do not understand, but , the whole trend of the comment is unfair, and also for the matter of that ungenerous. Jug Americans have sue* ceeded where the Australians arid New 'Zealanders failed and it would not be | generous to withhold praise on that acI count. The criticism is unfair .because . it is grounded on wrong premises as to the settlement value of the land 1 being worked and is flatly a negation ! n f the whole System of gold mining.

The last conclusion we are afraid, confirms the complaint often made m these columns as to the apathy ot the Mines Department in furthering the interests of gold mining. The criticism of Mr Anderson is not helpful for the Suture of the industry. Instead of being its champion he takes up au attitude which would have any one cold as to the importance of the industry. He does not see in the Rimu proposition an opportunity to start an important revival in gold mining. Looking back over tbe years who cannot recall the great service gold mining has been to the initial progress and development of the Dominion. The gold was the magic attraction to bring men from all corners of the globe to set about tlie opening up of this country. Millions of pounds worth of value were brought to the surface, employing a great population and creating employment for all, as well as providing an outlet for produce. The gold rushes to Otago were the salvation of the sheep owners in those’ days. The gold rushes to the West Coast opened up and settled this district as no other means could. The gold mining industry lifted New Zealand ahead by decades, but the present Minister of Mines is unmindful of this service and blind to the possibilities of the future by an active mining development. Mr Anderson even questions the areas taken up by tire enterprising Company, and tries to lamely excuse himself. The land was acquired legitimately under the mining laws of the Dominion and is administered under the eye of his own Department. It seems to be the same old story, jealousy of success and hot prepared to acknowledge the wisdom Of new methods in gold milling.

The Prime Minister is about to go on the London market for another loan. The last big loan floated by the New Zealand Government ivas bf £5,000,000 at 6 per cent, issued in June, 1921, at £96. Tlie cost to the Government, with charges and provision for redemption, worked out at about 61 per cent. After the Government obtained a smaller sum at 6 per cent, at an an issue price of £99 ss. The most recent Dominion issue o» the London market, was the Auckland City loan of £400,000, without Government guar* an tee at 6 per cellt, the issue price being 94. This was floated in the middle of. December, and was over-subscribed in one day. This was considered to indicate the highly satisfactory position of New Zealand credit and also the improving toiie of the London market. In the recent months there has been a greater improvement indicated in the market, ahd Australia has reaped the advantage. New Zealand credit is at least equal to that of Australia and the Dominion should do equally well. The loan authority granted by Parliament last session was for £5,000,000. The purposes of the loan, as set out in the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act, are: (1) Construction of railways; (2) additional rolling stock for open lilies and such other works and pudposes in connection therewith as may bo authorised; (3) telegraph extension; (4) the construction of reads, tracks and bridges for tlie purpose of opening up backblocks, developing goldfields, and such other works and purposes in connection therewith as may .be authorised; (5) other public works.”

Throughout last year Australian loans were issued nt 6 per cent, with n gradual increase in the price to investors, then the Victorian Government tested the market last month with 5J per cent securities at 99, and now the Commonwealth Government has made an issue of 5 per cent at 96. Tin’s is the fourth Federal loan of £5,000,000 within thirteen months, previous issues of 6 per cent haying been made in February, 1921, at 95 : in October at 96, and in January at 97. The last loan was required to redeem Treasury bills, £2,000,000 in London and £3,000,000 in Australia, and the last instalment wa s payable only on ! March 23. Within the last six months Australian Governments have borrowed no less than £40,000,000 abroad, this total including three Commonwealth loans of £5,000,000 each, £10,000,000 for New South Wales, in two issues, £4,000,000 for Victoria. £3,000,000 each for Western Australia and South Australia, and about £5,000,000 for Queensland, in two issues in New York. In addition several of the large local government authorities have floated loans. It should be noted, however, that this large amount is not wholly additional to the public debts of the States and tlie Commonwealth as several of the issues have been wholly or partly to redeem maturing indebtedness.