COAL TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1926, Page 2

COAL TROUBLE.

MR SNOWDEN'S VIEWS. [Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] DON LION, June 23. Two speeches' that an? likely to ho landmarks in the coal dispute were delivered yestenlay. Mr Philip Snowden (former Labour Chancellor of the Exchequer), said that tho trade union idea had been one of antagonism to the employers. “Ve have got to change that,” he said, “and to- get the workmen to realise that they are partners in industry. I would like to see the policy changed so that the Unions could not he concerned merely in getting tin? highest uages which they can screw out of an industry, but, rather, helping to make the industry efficient, so that the money will he there from which the highest wages can he paid. I lie. attitude of the employers that the workmen are paid to work, hut not to think, must also he altered. The .employers must cease discouraging higher output by not sharing the profits from such.” He appealed to employers and workers to get together and to create a new era of prosperity. BIRKENHEAD’S HISTRIONICS. Referring to the Coal Dispute, Lord Birkenhead said that the Government had not hoen anxious to take sides. He held that the language of the Government throughout- the coal negotiations had been as harsh to the owners as to the men. Be continued: “But as far as my experience goes, the fault has been entirely with those who will not consider the least concession. Neither the Prime Minister nor the Angel Gabriel would ho able to reach a .settlement so long as they would have to deal with such a man as Mr Cook. I and my colleagues are determined, if driven to necessity, by this attempt at blackmail by men who declare that they have a strangle-hold on the vital chords of industry, that , we shall again sorrowfully, hut resolutely gird ourselves for a great struggle. Wo shan’t permit tho nation to he destroyed.”

ATTACK ON TRADES UNIONS (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON. June 23

Lord Birkenhead, who is a member of a Cabinet committee that is examining the Trade Union law, addressed fifteen hundred Conservative Association delegates. He doclaerd that a primary necessity was that, the controllers oi the Trade Union funds should l.e answerable for any wrongful facts lor which they are responsible. He favoured secret ballots. He believed that- the- difficulty of adequately arranging these could he .surmounted. A secret ballot would he useless if the examination of the votes were left entirely in the hands of the representatives <>( the Trade Unions. The Cabinet Committee, he said, had overwhelming evidence of fraudulent votes and bogus returns.