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Hokitika Guardian, 2 July 1926, Page 2

The coal trouble at Home still drags its weary length along. The opposing sides are obdurate, and the referee, the Government, is rather passive. Legislation bearing on the matter is before Parliament this week, and may have siuue ellect on the situation. Rideed, the prestige- won by Mr Baldwin in th,3 great strike depends for its durability in a great measure on the outcome of flic coal trouble. ’.lhe Prime Minister may yet perform some masterstroke. Whether lie has been waiting with marked patience, Mica wber-like, -for something to turn up, or not, is not clear, but the passive pose of the Government, suggests there is perhaps some hope of a natural interval settlement which would bo more lasting that a peace forced on the parties. The situation has now dragged oil for about two months, and the loss and dislocation of trade must be enormous. To justify the position something very definite and lasting in the way of a MOttlement is needed. The issue seems to be more work or less pay, if Hie coalmines are to pay their way. The men on their part are not disposed '‘to work loiigjer hours nor take less pay. AYitli both sides, the owners and the miners, so determined in their attitude, it will be recognised that it is a difficult problem for the Government to force. Local iiiflueiu" appears to have exhausted itself ill the effort at a .settlement or even a compromise. The move the Government is aiming at now is to take the situation out of the hands of the leaders of tlv3 miners who are dominating the position on behalf of the workers, and force a secret ballot among the men. This might have a boomerang effect, for so far there is no expressed opinion among tin?, men for such a course, hut in the absence of any other move, it is an alternative and the risk is well worth taking. The Labor organisations do not approve of secret balfcits, preferring executhv. rule, but where an impasse has arisen it is desirable some way out should be found. Tlie secret ballot may go a long way in ending the ml? of those who as leaders of the men have dominated the position hitherto. That would not ho serious even for the men who have so ofti?n liocn very ill-led l>y their accredited leaders. The outcome of the legislative proposals on the matter will he awaited with interest.