THAT COAL GIFT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8350, 10 February 1913, Page 6

THAT COAL GIFT

There was a meeting of Cabinet on Saturday morning, at which, w© believe, the legal position in regard to coal deposits contained in .Crown leaseholds was very seriously discussed by the Ministers assembled. The opinion of high professional authorities appearing in our columns ever tho signature of Mr T. F. Martin cannot fail to have impressed the Government with the gravity of the situation, and to have completely exposed the utter hollowness of the “ marc’s nest” theory. Yet the utmost secrecy is maintained as to the deliberations of Cabinet concerning this question. The public is kept completely in the dark as to what steps Ministers charged with heavy responsibilities of office propose to take—if' they contemplate action at all—to prevent the further sacrifice of tho public estate. Wo can assure tho Government that a policy of masterly inactivity will not bo tolerated. The issues at stake are too great, the menace to the people too real and substantial, the popular indignation too acutely aroused, for Ministerial shuffling or bluffing to bo quietly endured'. Mr Brighton is not the only holder of coal-bearing leaseholds. and there will be a great rush for tne freehold now that the facts have been so widely advertised. The people are waiting very anxiously to see if tho Govsmment has any useful ideas on the sublet, any suggestions to make for tho preservation of the State’s interest and the abatement of popular disquietude. This is not a party question. It is altogether too consequential for that. A national issue is at stake, an issue concerning which there is no excuse for delay or indecision. The suggestion has been made even in Ministerial circles that the only way out of the difficulty is to call_ Parliament together as soon as possible and give the representatives of the constituencies an opportunity to remedy the unfortunate state of tho law. What has tho Prime Minister to say? We can hardly imagine that he is any longer “ amused.” The difficulties in the way of keeping up a condition of merriment are, we should say, sufficiently obvious in tbe very painful circumstances.