BRITISH MINERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1921, Page 5

BRITISH MINERS.

LESSONS OF THE STRIKE. EXAGGERATED POWER. THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received August 18, 5.5 p.m. London, August 17. Contrary to expectations, the miners’ annual conference, under Mr. Smith’s presidency, opened in an unusually subdued atmosphere. Mr. Smith said the influence of the war became manifest in the economic position of the coal trade. A sense of power and importance had developed in the minds of the workmen that was not altogether healthy, and gave many of them an exaggerated opinion of their power. If they had learned the lesson from the October, 1920, strike they would have followed different tactics to those adopted in March. He considered it was a wrong decision to fight upon the pool issue, and subsequent events proved it was wrong. Another error was the withdrawal of the safety men; its consequences were all around them to-day. Referring to the Triple Alliance of Labor, Mr. Smith said it was certain that the miners themselves were not provided with an opportunity for united action upon one great issue. If they had one regret it was that they were too loyal, and their loyalty was purchased at too great a price—the price of poverty and starvation to members and misery to millions of their fellow countrymen.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.