MINERS' VICTORY

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 240, 12 October 1942, Page 2

MINERS' VICTORY

STATEMENT BY MR HOLLAND.

P.A.

DUNEDIN, Oct. 12.

Mr Holland, who arrived here this morning, made the following statement: "Mr Webb was unquestionahly telling the truth when he said the Northern Miners' Union executive were completely happy over the confiscation of the Waikato coal mines. This is another black page in the Government's record of industrial appeasement and capitulation to the forces of lawlessness by playing the enemy's game, as Mr Semple put it, by holding up production and by dis • organising our transport syst-em so that thousands of soldiers were locked in their camps because there was insufficient coal to take them to their homes and families. Thirteen hundred coal-miners have won an important battle towards the main objective of State control and socialisation. Thirteen hundred striking coal miners have succeeded in robbing 13,000 hard-working dairy farmers who co-operatively own two Waikato mines" of the right to manage their own affairs. Eleven hundred coal miners wantonly broke the law and have not even been summoned and prosecuted. Thirteen t-housand dairy farmers broke no law and committed no wrong. The findlng of the court of inquiry was entirely in their favour, yet they virtually lose control of their own mines, and any increased earnings are to be confiscated to the use of the war funds to pay fees, salaries and allowances to the members of this board. This is a grave misuse of war funds and will be received with much misgiving by the public." Much space is devoted in the union's statement to the question of excess profits being paid to the War Expenses Account, but there is significant silence on the important question of where any deficiency or loss is to come from. One naturally wonders why the Minister is silent on this point. The original regulations provided that any losses should be a charge on the War Expenses Account and if there were insufficient funds to pay the average dividend to the shareholders then the dividend would be made up out of the War Expenses Account. Again this would be a grave misuse of war funds and a serious shock to the public." In an interview this morning Mr Holland said his Christchurch interview on the election had been misunderstood. He had not said it should be held in three months, but that it would require that period to complete preparations. He definitely held that the election should take place when war condtions permitted. These were unfavourable at present, put a time when New Zealand troops were resting, as recently in Libya, would be suitable.