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Hokitika Guardian, 11 August 1925, Page 2

Osk of the best national assets in labor and political circles at Home, is Mr J. H. Thomas, 31. P.. an ox-. Minister of the late Labor Ministry. -Mr Thomas is the political secretary of the National Union of Bailwaymou at flume, and he can he counted upon always a.s being sensible in negtiating regarding tne settlement of disputes. In the recent coal crisis he was a taetor in bringing about the (ompromisc which the Government entered into while protesting they would not. 31. Thomas is one who counts the cost, and does not take the plunge and think illLOJi’Wiinis. Addressing a meeting in June at Derby when the national strike was in the air. he gave a forcible address calling for coolness and deliberation before taking any hurried decision. JI is views are worth repeating to indicate that among Ihe leaders there are those with ballast and decision in whom there must, he centred a great deal of trust in the hour of emergency, lie said: Either a lockout or a strike in our present econo mic position would lie absolutely disastrous to the Inline ol the country, and God knows what, the end of it would lie. L believe that it is the duly not. only of the coal owners and the miners but the Government as well to realise the gravity of the situation and not talk in a spirit of desperation, as if there has got tu he a light to the hitter end. The bad position, not only of the coal, but also of the steel trade, has found its relies ill the railway returns, and it is no good to run away front facts. Tho.-e id us win sc duty it is to watch these returns cannot lie other than disturbed by the tremendous volume of decrease in railway tratlic during the past twelve mouths. The railway companies have taken tie unprecedented step of inviting all the men's representatives to meet them in coiltereiiee to have a free and lull talk and to put all the cards on the table. 1 think it is the best tiling that the companies could have done. I intend, as my executive intends, to go into thtil, conference to-morrow with a genuine and single-minded desire to face the facts. If the, industry is to he pulled round, and if we arc to save the situation, it- is not going to he done at the expense ol one section at the bottom while forgetting the other section at the lop. It will have to be gone into by everyone making their emit rihiitions. '! his is not the t une tor panic. It is not- the time to pass resolutions and say unless this or that is done we are going to have a strike, or for the employers to say they are going to have a lack-lit. This is the time when cool heads and calm judgment iiiiisl lie brought to hear.

It was menti< >l nv 1 ill the -illing of t lie foilntv Cniiii'il lasi week Unit :it tin* next iiiinit lily meeting, the Council is to consider the <|iu - stion of representation of the Ridings L the Council t.iihle. The Couneil :it present consists of nine meinhers. though it Inns been ml licet 1 to seven, while it may he increiistnl up to twelve meinhers. From time to time the im| ortiinee of the district fluctuates. In the thiys pone by the northern portion of the County was the more prosperous, carrying the larger popuhition nnd holding ;i considerable ruteiihle value. With the decline of mininp !<oth rateable value anil population decreased, while settlement advancin'' in the southern part of the County caused that portion to increase in importance and revenue. It is provided hy statute that at certain periods the Council .shall consider the representation, and such a time is now at hand. Representation is governed hy two main factors, the niimhers of electors and the rateable value. 1 is for the Council to decide on the basis indicated how many ridings there shall he, and the representation of each. It is conceivable with the growth of the southtrn district that there will lie some change necessary. The Clerk is to report in advance for the benefit of members and the Couneil will have the information at hand for next mectinp. One suggcctiou put forward lots been to increase the ridiHi's, hut that mipht entail an increased nmnlier of Councillors. However there is a quota basis on which to determine the matter, and no doubt the Couneil in fairness to all parts of the County will work out the representation on tin l lines laid down hy the Counties Act.