MINERS AND THE ARMY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 2 August 1917, Page 2

MINERS AND THE ARMY.

Though mining in Britain is "protected" for reasons both of military and of national importance, this industry is expected to provide more more for military service. The presence of young men in the pits from their occupations—farmers' sons, shop assistants, clerks, piano-tuners, and collectinsurance agents—has been a constant cause of irritation and discontent to the feneral body of miners, many of whose sons and brothers have voluntarily gone into the fighting ranks. The number of miners, who up to the end of March, 1916, had joined the colours was 282,200, that is 25 per cent, of the whole of the labour employed at the collieries at the outbreak of war,. The replacements up to the same date, largely by men from other occupations were .1.16,900. At the present time they are about 200,000 men. The miners say if more men are required for military service these, are the men who should be taken. They are regarded by the other workmen, in the pits as shirkers, men who are working there simply to avoid their duty to the State.