The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1926. OWNERS MUST PLAY THE GAME

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12606, 17 November 1926, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1926. OWNERS MUST PLAY THE GAME

After a stubborn six-months’ struggle, the British miners have thrown up the sponge. Whatever lelse may be said of them, they demonstrated pertinacity and a capacity for sacrifice worthy of a better cause. The fight persisted in spite of the best efforts of the Government to bring both sides to reason. None but the hopelessly prejudiced will question the sincerity underlying Mr Baldwin's interventions on behalf of peace. Unfortunately, the Prime Minister found the owners as immovable as the men, and so the dispute dragged its weary length, leaving misery and general economic distress in its tram- , The miners have surrendered, not because of' a failing faith m their case, but because they had come to the end of their resources. Bolshevik money to the amount of some hundreds of thousands sterling, plus contributions from New Zealand and elsewhere, assisted to keep the miners' pot boiling when their own means were exhausted. When that aid ceased, nothing was left them but to return on the best terms they could secure. “The first thing to be avoided,” counsels Mr J, H. Thomas, “is gloating over the miners’ defeat.” In the circumstances, such advice should not be needed. There is a big and inescapable responsibility on the employers to play the-game. The/men are entitled to that assurance even though th r e strike has cost the nation colossal losses all round. A policy of victimisation or exploitation on the part of the owners will inevitably bring its own reward. The old rancour'will remain, intensifying as time passes, only waiting the opportunity to break out once more into open strife. If, the victory (such as it is) won, the owners show some magnanimity, all concerned will be benefited. The coal muddle has hurt British trade grievously. That signifies hurt to the nation at large. . There is only one remedy for such wounds: a better understanding between the protagonists culminating in increased goodwill and co-operation. All the rest will follow. . ■ The fact that the future of the British coal industry is beset \yith baffling problems will be no excuse for those responsible not combining to attack those problems with every available legislative and economic weapon. The appropriate occasion to prepare against war is in peace days. It is even so in the domkin of industry. Britain is in sore need of industrial amity. The Government is under an obligation, now that the miners have resumed, to see that an earnest endeavour is made by the owners to put their rather tumbled house in order.