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Hokitika Guardian, 1 March 1927, Page 2

WirKN dealing with direct m-lioli methods on Saturcfay. ami the readiness wit li which certain 1 tranches of organised lainr adopt « strike as the means to enforce demands, we instanced the recent incident at the State Coal mines. Our remarks were not pleasing to the Cre.vinonth moraine; paper—which is not surprising, lint ghev were remarks which all sensible people, who are crowing tired of these frequent fruitless -trikes, will confirm. It was •riven out that the men. struck over some delay with a fan. N 7 ot because there Utis anything wrong with the fan. hut hocau.se pay was stopped while they were off work, lit the end the men went hack to work without it settlement of the pay question. As regards the fan which was mentioned at the outset, the Department took the precautions that were necessary. All tin's could have keen achieved without a strike. That was our point, which of course the “Argus” refuses to see. These red methods of taking matters into their own hands is becoming exhausting, and requires to he stopped. There is not any necessity for it. least of all a State owned undertaking where the government is expected to do all in its power for safety. The “Argus” draws in recent mining accidents which have no hearing on the direct action methods we complain of. There was no complaint- in those cases at all and no reference on our part. But we still maintain that similar striking tactics at the State mine should he discountenanced when through orderly channels remedies to grievances can lie readily affected—ns witness this major trouble about pay is now to he settled when the Minister next visits the district! .The experience which recurs so often in the same direction should he a lesson, but through recalcitrant leaderships it takes a long time to learn. The recent strike cost the men £'2ooo in wages—for what? Verb Sap.