Page 12 Advertisements Column 3

Taranaki Daily News, 12 July 1919, Page 12

"Would you have minora competing witli jailbirds?" asfed Mr. T. Bloodworth nt the Arbitration Court in Auckland, after Mr. S. E. Wright had suggested that, in view of the rising price of coal, the Government should work tlio State coal mines with prison labor. The suggestion had a bearing on a discussion earlier in the day concerning the likelihood of many poor people in the city having to go without coal during the winter, and Mr. Wright, in making his suggestion, remarked that the miners were asking for such absurd conditions tliat something would have to be done to fceep down the price of coal. Mr. Justice Stringer laughingly • remarked that anyone iplaced in charge of a gang of coal-hewing prisoners would have a lively time. He thought that as Mr. Wright Iliad made the suggestion, the job ought to be given to him, to which Mr. Wright replied that lie would place the miners, who had the necessary experience, in charge of the gangs and let them «un thtir £1 * day is that way.