The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1918. THE MINING TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 August 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1918. THE MINING TROUBLE.

When the Minister of Mines (Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald) was interviewed in Auckland recently by the Federation of Labor, in connection with the miners' trouble, he rightly stressed the fact that it would be a very disastrous thing for the country if it were plunged into industrial trouble just now. The t|iiestion of coal supply is of vital importance to the industrial and domestic life of the Dominion. For a shortage to be caused by the lack of shipping there is no remedy, but no other cause should be allowed to operate. It would appear from the Minister's statement that in 1917 there was an abortive conference in Wellington, lasting for over a week, between the Miners' Federation and the mine owners. It was then agreed that tlte miners should go to their individual unions—each company to its own individual miners' union—and endeavor to arrange a settlement. This settlement was arrived at, and an award made by the court on the lines of the agreement. So far, so good; but although the Federation maintains that it does not want the award varied, it wants a 20 per cent, bonus, so that in reality the position is that a few months after the award was made a fresh demand is put forward by the Federation on behalf of the miners working on that award. Naturally the mine owners say.- "If agreements are confirmed "by the Arbitration Court, and immediately afterwards a body of miners can come and ask if a variation can take place, where will the matter end?" The proper tribunal to decide all these questions is the Arbitration Court, but the miners refuse 1o cite their ease before this tribunal, and the Federation even goes so far as to state that it has no faith in that court; therefore it wants a round table talk to discuss the matter, man to man. The owners' reply to this is a declaration that they' cannoj deal with the Federation, the position being that one party wilt not go to the proper tribunal, and the other will not recognise the Federation because the whole of the agreements now in operation were made with the different unions, and not with the Federation. The result of the secret ballot was in favor of a strike. According to Mr. Semple, the miners are determined on the issue, but were hopeful that Cabinet would act courageously and compel the mine owners to pursue a more conciliatory policy. The Minister asserts that the Government will not allow any exploitation by the mine owners of the miners. He admits that the Government realises that the price of coal in the Dominion is very high, and that there is no section of the people making higher wages than the miners. It is quite possible that at the root of the whole trouble is to be found dissatisfaction on the part of the miners, not so much at the pay they are earning, but at the great discrepancy existing between the cost of the coal to the owners and the amount charged to the consumers. In this connection the Minister states that, whether the coal mine owners, coal dealers or retailers are making more than is fair has already been referred to the Board of Trade to investigate, and he hopes this investigation will be made as soon as possible. The trouble has several aspects, inasmuch as it affects not only the miners and mine-owners, but the Government,, and the industrial and domestic manifest duty of the Government to prevent the country being plunged into a disastrous industrial trouble. It has the power to do this, but it oifght not to be a question of taking extreme measures, and flu; miners would be well advised to listen to reason, .and not force the cancellation of I their exemption from military serI vice, or the adoption of other'drastic steps. It their claim for an additional 20 per cent, is based on sound and reasonable facts, they should submit their case to the Arbitration Court, but if their real object is to obtain some of the difference between the cost price of coal and that-paid by the consumer, then the Government may take a hand in the settlement, in any event, whatever increase (if any) the miners may ;'>olain will have to be borne by ■ lie consumers, unless the Govern■n'lit is sufficiently courageous to.. lia the prices all round, after receiving the report of the Board of I'laOe..ln this coal trouble it is that needs sympathetic gnt, for it has to carrysthe "Si't of the.biw*'