The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1921. END OF MINERS’ STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1921. END OF MINERS’ STRIKE.

After lasting for three months, the British miners’ strike has now ended, and much gratification will be felt at the welcome news. The loss, direct and indirect, involved by the action of the miners must be colossal, while the in-j’-ry to trade and other industries will be very serious. Fortunately the Triple Alliance did not throw its weight into the scale, or the result would have inflicted such a heavy blow on the Motherland as would have been hard to bear. The demands made by the miners, as voiced by the secretary of the Federation (Mr. Frank Hodges) were that the industry should be subsidised so as to pro-

vide the means to pay a wage greater than the coal could at the time yield, also that the profits should be pooled so that the pits which were worked at a loss could be subsidised. Sir Robert Horne (President of the Board of Trade) replied on March .31 that it was impossible to subsidise the coal industry, and the conference then announced that it had been decided to withdraw ajl the workers, including the pump men. The miners persisted in their demands, and even withdrew the pump men. They also endeavored fto prevent the mines being saved ‘by volunteers at the pumps, but though some mines were put out of action the rest were saved. That act alone discloses the fact that the miners were prepared to wreak veneance on the coal.njyners unlessdtyaaftdff.y.'tori;

granted, and were totally callous as to the workers in other, industries being rendered idle through the stoppage of coal supplies. The miners and their union officials were well aware that coal production was being carried on at a considerable loss, the weekly deficit being stated under the conditions existing at the time of the strike to be two millions sterling a week, due mainly to the enormous increase in the men’s wages and despite the increased production on which the latter increases were based since the strike of last year. A comparison of the average wages cost per ton, which in 1913 was six shillings and fourpence, and in 1920 ranged from twenty-two shillings and eightpence in the March quarter to thirty shillings in the December quarter, bears out the contention. As a matter of fact labor’s proportion of the proceeds of the industry reached seventy per cent., the remaining thirty per cent, being mostly absorbed by other working costs. It was only the high prices obtained for bunker coal that enabled the owners to carry on. No industry can stand paying wages greater than the value of its product. There is no reason why the miners should be subsidised at the expense of workers in other industries. But the miners were as obstinate as they were greedy, hence the dislocation of industries and great losses caused by the strike. It was evident from the outset of the trouble that a settlement would have to be reached sooner or later. The miners were bent on victory, and the Government were equally determined there should be no national pool. That was the real blocking point, and the miners at, last had to give way, being induced thereto by the promise of a Government subsidy of ten millions to tide over the transition period. Although the offer was withdrawn, it is practically certain that the settlement now arrived at is on the understanding that it will be granted. Compared with the gain ensuing on resumption of work at the mines, the ten millions is a mere bagatelle, though it is a pernicious principle to establish. It is to be. hoped that the experience gained in this strike will tend to bring about a better understanding, and that Britain will now be enabled to exhibit a satisfactory expansion in industry. If the miners have any sense of what is fitting they will get to work with a will, for it is only by greater production all round that Britain can recapture her world trade, the leeway made up, and the cost of living can be reduced.