THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1909. THE BLANK CHEQUES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3089, 11 January 1909, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 1909. THE BLANK CHEQUES.

The financial liability of the people has been increased by the decision of the Government to give a blank cheque to every miner in the country suffering from pneumoconiosis. The words "to give a blank cheque," etc., are not ours; they are those of the Hon. J. A. Millar, lately Minister for Labour, when his opinion was invited upon the dispute between the mine owners and men in connection with insurance under the Workers' Compensation Act, 1908. Mr Millar, on the occasion referred to, said "The Government can do absolutely nothing 1 in the matter. It is a question purely between the owners and the men. The men are practically asking the Government to givj a blank cheque to every miner in the country who is suffering from disease. We could not do that without the authority of Parliament." The country generally mint have been satisfied with the businesslike and statesmanlike view of the position taken by Mr Millar, but what can be s-aid of Sir Joseph

Ward's recent statement in regard to the trouble. That it has simply astonished the country is very clear, but whatever effect it made have produced our concern lies with the utterance itself. On Friday last Sir Joseph Ward telegraphed to the President of the New Zealand Miners' Federation as follows: —"In further reference to my wire of yesterday, the Government will legislate early next session with a view of removing present difficulties, making the Act workable. Pending Parliament dealing with the matter, the Government will indemnify the Government Insurance Department against loss for policies covering pneumoconiosis under section 10, and will authorise the department to issue pdicies without medical examination or declaration as to health. In taking this course the Government reiy with confidence on the honour of the miners that none but bona fide claims will be made." The Wellington "Post," a newspaper that is usually favourable towards the Ward Government, describes the decision of the Government as "a deplorable precedent," and remarks editorially. "On the face of it the rn'itbod adopted by the Government for the settlement of the deadlock with which the mining industry was tireatened is of very evil example." A? Mr Millar said "the . Government can do absolutely nothing in the matter," that is to say the Government shouldjdo absolutely nothing in the matter! But the Government is without backbone; it is as spineless as a jelly-fish, and blank cheques have been scattered broadcast, rather than fiat the wisheg of a labour federation should not be given elfect to. Nominally, the Governrmnt will c=ish the cheques—actually the people. The Premier's explanation that "in taking this course the Government rely with confidence on the honour of the miners that none but bona fide claims will be made," is the most milk and watery, pandering, statement that can possibly be imagined. What; necessity is there to rely upon the honour of the mines? As a class miners are, no doubt, just as honourabls as any other class in the country, but the business of the country should be conducted in a businesslike way ! That the Government should be, practically, compelled to accept risks that no other insurance company conducted in a businesslike way would accept, is evidence of a decision on the part of the Government to pander to Labour to an extent that is not only contemptible, but positively alarming.