The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1926. THE COAL SETTLEMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1926. THE COAL SETTLEMENT.

It is over two months now since the report of the Coal Commission was made public. It was intended as a guide to meet the industrial situation, so that when the coal subsidy from the government ceased on May Ist, there would he no dislocation of the trade. Unfortunately the miners and the companies were not able to agree along the lines of the report or on any settlement, and on May 4th. came the great strike. Since then the strikers have wavered, and the strike as such lias petered out In its intensity, hnl the coal trouble is still there, and the miners and the companies being unable as yet to find a basis for a settlement, the Crime Minister lias stepped in and submitted a plan, the basis of which is founded on the report of "the Coal Commission. Yesterday we referred to the personnel of the Chairman of the Commission, and no doubt Mr Stanley Baldwin would be in close conference with Sir Herbert Samuel in arriving at the basis now put before the contending parties. The report as presented ori-

ginally was regarded as a masterly document. The report in point of fact suggested a settlement on a basis to be negotiated between the two parties eonerned. Neither side obtained all it wanted, but the recommendations contained material said to be ample enough to bridge the gaps between the two parties. The Commissioners condemned the Government subsidy as indefensible, and it stated it should not bo repeated after the expiring date, -May Ist. The report condemned also tb policy of nationalisation as being marked by “grave economic dangers.” They stated that they could not approve the mine-owners’ plan of increasing hours, reducing wages, and various economies in working costs. But if the present hours were to he retained the Commissioners report that a revision of the “minimum percentage addition to standard rates” of wages was indispensable. This minimum percentage (which is the amount added to the pre-war rate of wages) was fixed in 1924 at a time of temporary prosperity. They warned all that a disaster to the coal industry is impending and that the immediate reduction of working costs which can he effected “in this way and by this' way alone” is essential to save 1 the industry. Even with a revision in 1 tlg( rate of wages, the mine-owners 1 wiir l>e left without adequate profits in most districts. Should the miners prefer an extension of hours to a re- ! vision of wages, the Commissioners ex- 1 press the opinion that Parliament will * sanction the necessary changes in the ' aw, hut appear to depreciate such an 3 dteration, as they say they “trust it J 'ill not occur.” The Commissioners •egarded it as important to continue lational wage agreements, as in all 1 Vther great 'British industries, but tnted that it is essential that there ‘ hotild be in the future, ns in the G

past, “considerable variation in the rate of wages in the several districts,” thus giving elasticity to the national agreement. In spite of the saving effected by a revision of the minimum percentage, they considered the closing down of a number of the older and uneconomic pits inevitable,i but suggested that the Government should provide plans and funds for ally transfer of labour which may thereby become necessary.- All of this indicates tho serious plight of the industry, and the necessity of maintaining it might have hcelv the Cause of more goodwill being .shown in the negotiations which failed. It seems to he a case of dragging, the industry out of a hole, and much good will and good spirit were' necessary. That essential feeling has heed absent in/oughout, and caused the disatrous strike. Now tliut the nation is getting back to sanity, thanks to the strength of the Government, it is to be hoped Mr Baldwin will he able to force a settlement by tho terms he is putting before the parties. It is clearly a colossal task, and the issue is so groat that the greatest consideration for the circumstance* as they are, are called for. The nation, through the Government, has exhibited its bona fides in the matter, and it is for the parties now that all tho cards are on the table to play the game witty, the holiest desire of winning out on reasonable lines. The crisis will not have passed till there is a, real display of good will by the parties in meeting and agreeing to a settlement, anil doing their best to carry it out successfully.