The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1929. THE ISSUE.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 December 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1929. THE ISSUE.

It is etremely difficult at this juncture to anticipate what is g-ing to be the final outcome of the coal oinbroglio. in Australia. A week ago and matteis were in a fair way for a final settlement. It was pr. posed the mine owners should bear a small share of the adjustment on wages, the miners a lesser share, while the public through both the State and Federal Governments were to bear the major cost.

Everything appeared to be well in train for what was, perhaps, under all the circumstances, an honourable settlement of the impasse. There were rejoicings on all sides. Newcastle indulged in a minor Mafeking jubilation. But when the miners’ delegates submitted to the lodges the terms of tiie proposed settlement, the members in many instances turned down the compromise, regarding any reduction in wages as a betrayal of the worker! Considering that the strike or lock-out has gone on for so many months, involving a tremendous individual and national loss, it is remarkable indeed that the miners should have treated so brus'|iioly the report from their own delegates. It seems to bo complete revolt against all authority to thus set aside the careful deliberations of a conference called at the eleventh hour ol a grave crisis to find a way out of the difficulty -a difficulty which bad grown into a. matter of national concorn. The conference, it is interesting to recall, was convened at the authority of the recently elected Federal Labour Government. .Air Scullin swept into power on many promises, one of which was the undertaking to open the closed coal mines within a fortnight! Several weeks have gone oy and the promise is unfulfilled, though the Government must, bo given the credit of a genuine effort in respect to I lie conference v’Mch nron’i'od success, but lias now failed. If there is to tie a peaceful settlement the oblige) ion for effecting it is on the Labour Ministry. So far as the State Government is concerned, it is committed to a determination to produce coal with free labour, if the overtures fail—as luSbrtunatcl.v they have. Mr Bavin appears resolved to proceed in that direction, in which case there is talk

ol : a national strike. There is of course the doubt about a national •strike succeeding', the more so now that tbe coal miners who are. recalcitrant in this matter, bad tbe opportunity of an honourable settlement but refused it. That settlement was approved and recommended by their own delegates, in tbe face of that posit on there wdl be a strong and even general public bearing towards tbe support of any constitutional action which will end the dispute, and give the country tbe coal it needs to carry on -its industries and social services. I here can be no charge of victimisation with the knowledge the Federal Labour Government supports the rejected scheme for settlement. The matter revolts now tu the State Government, excepting a national emergency mise which would justify the Federal Government intervening, and then it is plain it can intervene solely with the object of supporting its own recommendations for a compromise settlement equitable to all the parties concerned. The coal miners are taking up an extreme position, and are evidently very badly advised. They are jeopardising the industry and they are placing themselves in a very peculiar positi ,n. The miners who were unemployed have had sustenance at least from the dole paid hv the Government, but with the rejection of the settlement and res,stance to the opening of the mines by free or any labour, the Government will not he justified in continuing the dole to those who refuse to work. The crisis is going to be a critical one all round, but the issue is a plain one in the end, constitutional rule must prevail, and the Government, whether State or Commonwealth, must uphold it.