THE "GO-SLOW" POLICY.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1920, Page 5

THE "GO-SLOW" POLICY.

LABOR M.P.'S OPINIONS. C'hristchurch Labor members of Parliament, who were interviewed last week, did not agree with the view put forward that in their Wellington conference they should discuss the go-slow policy in the mines, with a view to bringing it to an end. Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., expressed the belief that with a little tact the grievances lepdsting between the coal miners and the coal mine owners could be easily got over if handled .correctly. "For some reason or other," Mr. Howard said, "Somebody in the country wants a strike, and I am confident it is not the industrial forces that want it. We have heard rumors of the. strike over and over again. What is behind it?" Mr. Howard was asked if ho did not think the go-slow policy in the mines might precipitate a strike. He replied that the present trouble could be got over easily. He did not think there was'any great obstacle in the way. He considered that he would have to be actually on the job to express an opinion of the rights or wrongs of the. go-slow policy. This much could be said for the miners in their/goslow policy, that they were not robbing the owners. The miner was paid by results He only received pay for the actual work he performed, but six hours a day for five days a week underground was plenty for any man. "Will the labor members discuss this question?" Mr. Howard was asked.

"Sure not to," lie replied. "We do not interfere with the industrial side of the question. That must bo settled by the industrial side. There is no more direct connection between the Federation of Labor, which is the industrial side, and the Labor Representation Committee, or the New Zealand Labor Party, than there is between the Chamber of Commerce and the Liberal Party. Within the miners' organisation, in' any case, there is an anti-political feeling. I think there is a general tendency to lose faith in the politician, and this is characteristic of the whole of the people. No politician in the labor movement holds office in the industrial machine. I have just resigned my position as secretary of the General Laborers' Union."

Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P., said that during a part of the war period the miners proved that they were accessible to an appeal from the country and made such efforts that they broke the New Zealand record, and, he believed, the world's record in regard to the output of coal per man. It was not reasonable to assume that the miners' present attitude, involving reduced earnings, was the result of "sheer cussedness." They must have genuine grievances. Let the Government and the newspapers honestly examine the case, and while criticising the miners, say frankly anything that was to be said in 'heir favour.

"If the mine owners are prepared to be decent to the men," he concluded, "I am prepared to help towards a settlement in any way I can. In fact I would be only too eager to help in that direction, as I fully realise that the country stands in need of all classes pulling together to remedy the economic efforts of the war. However I want justice done to the miners."