The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1920. THE BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3606, 19 October 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1920. THE BRITISH COAL STRIKE.

With which is incorporated ! "The Taihape Post and Waimaiino ; News" - I

Big movements are being made in the British coal-mining industry, and •circumstances and situations fc»ve arisen, and are almost certain to arise that will.require all the statesmanship and diplomatic skill that -Britain's graetest peacemakers are capable of. British miners went out on strike on Saturday and the British people are now face to face with a coallcss winter, a condition almost unthinkable in a country some twenty degrees nearer the earth's axis than this Dominion is. Great indeed should be the cause, or motive, for setting UP such catastrophic conditions, afid it is doubtful whether the miners have carefully counted the costs to them- . selves, their womenfolk land-children, for the greatest measure o'f suffering must, as a matter of course, fall upon .that' overwhelmingly preponderant class that is least able to bear it, and least eqipped to cast it off. Since last August Britain has obeen dangling over an industrial and social precipice. During the time intervening eoalminers have given the Government much concern, and it is reported th.it no -reasonable effort has been neglected that could have averted closing of the mines. Britain is now over the edge, whirling into industrial disaster, for no industry can escape from that stoppage of operations absence of coal makes "certain. It is difficult to* get the exact angle from which British miners'view the situation, but it 5s known, that the -Jitrike commenced on Saturady as a result of the Government's refusal of the miners' demand that coal shall be reduced fourteen shillings and twopence per ton, and that a further increase of pay should be given to the miners. To say the least, it is a demand that savours strongly of unreasonableness, if hot bordering upon incongruity, for only a factionist of the most extreme character will venture': to;'state '--that the leaders of Miners' Federation have at all convincingly shown that coal could be mined at a profit if such a reduction of price were granted. A studied reading of the whole case does not create an impression that the miners are conducting their -side on a safe financial basis. They merely estimate that by the end of: the year mined coal would produce a profit of £66,000,000, and they are "basing their demands,upon this estimate. The Government states that no surplus profit whatever is now made on coal consumed in Brifciia, exported ..coal alone producing Such profit,* and as the State has control of#'fto coal industry, and as the Government, has decided that Home demands 0 must first be met to the full before an ounce of coal goes out cf the country, the coal profits must be oi a very doubtful chagcater and_ vol imo. Sir Rob- ; ert Home's statovii'-vr -shoot proflts : is rather illuminating: he says, that, "if the surplus pr-rii+s. whatever they may be. were uss?-3 us *he miners claim, employees in every vradc would be entitled to. denand that ha if the sums now paig, to the ExVhvquer n the shape of excess profits- duty should be paid to them as wages." Does it, mean that miners are really insisting that ah profits made on coal should be divisable amongst them as wages? That nothing should go to the State towards rescuing it from the condition into which the great war has forced it? 'Miners already get all the profit made, if any, on Home consumed coal, but profits made on exported coal are evidently used to keep down taxation in a general way. Woujd miners take all profits made on coal? Is the coal industry to be free from taxation? If so all other industries are entitled to be freed from taxation, causing heavier imposts necessary upon every ordinary citizen. The condition of the miner at Home does not seem to warrant an industrial convulsion; wages have increased in excess of cost of living; he has a seven hour day and a little over a four day week. In many cases miners ffave free coal, but the average cost of coal to miner's, who pay for it, is 4/5 per ton. while the pithead price to everybody else is 33-/3. The "Ministry of Mines Bill" gives miners a voice in the control of the industry, and provides five million for thejr social betterment, and how the State can be expected to still further increase wages and at the same time reduce'the price of coal by over fourteen shillings per ton seems nothing short of a conundrum. The above undeniably outlines fairly the coal situation at Home, and yet the miners have gone out on strike to enforce their demands. Mr Smillie expressed regret that Government ob-

duracy and unwillingness to recognise the equity of the miners' demands, but the equity of the case from his not at ail obvious after taking into acount the miners' pre- j sent, pay, hours of work and privileges | enjoyed In any case,' what are the j hardships and deprivations suffered j by miners, if any, that in the slightest. degree warrant them widespreading disaster over the whole country, a disaster that is going to be far more bitter in the home of workers, than anywhere else? With a wage of £233 a year, virtually free coal, seven hour day, a four day week, a voice in the conduet of the coal industry and j with a promise by Act of Parliament I of £5,000,000 to be spent for their, social betterment, surely miners had no, good cause to use the strike weapon against the Government in the hour of the States greatest difficulty. The Government, it seems, is not j caught unprepared; railways can be j kept running for a considerable period, i and details are completed for transport of food by road and sea, should that be necessary. British newspapers are dismayed at the seriousness of the situation, though they admit the Government has done everything to avert trouble. It is notable that the miners should place in the forefront of their cause for striking the demand for cpal prices to be reduced by fourteen shillings per ton to the consumer. This is an innovation which, naturally leads one to seek an explanation. Are miners virtually saying to the masses of the people, "we are out on strike for you this time- and you must therefore put up ,with all you will have to suffer until the strike terminates in your favourr If»so, an awakening to a realisation of misplaced confidence awaits them. If the real motive is found in a de- | sire for nationalisation of coal-mines, and the Triple Alliance has promised to support the miners, no man living can predict where, and how, the strike will end. Much will, however, depend upon the Governments preparedness. The nationalisation infection may reach New Zealand*, and it is not unthinkable that an effort may be made by the Internationale to involve the whole British Empire. It is hoped that should New Zealand become disaffected the Government will not be caught napping. The results of the Geneva Conference clearly indicate that German and other Continental I.W.W. have again got British I.W.W. by the wool, cajoling them /"into taking steps that will relieve I the severity of the Continental situation, while risking 4'he very homes as I well as the Empire of Britishers.