THE WAIHI STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 73, 27 March 1920, Page 6

THE WAIHI STRIKE.

The strike at Waihi is one of those things that make one doubt whether men ever learn from experience. The country recently witnessed a dispute in the coal industry that brought the community to the- verge of disaster. After several months of disagreement, in which both sides declared they would never give way, that dispute was settled on terms of compromise that could just as. easily have been arranged Tn the first week or month. History t' lreat, ' n:3 repeat itself at Waihi. There is a dispute, and there must be a settlement —sonic day. Seeing that there must be a settlement in tjhe end, why not arrange it now and avoid the disaster that is hanging over the town? The probability is that the settlement will be a compromise, so why not compromise now and save trouble? Tho companies and the men were not very far from an agreement when the negotiations were broken off. At one J stage the men would have accepted 14/ as a minimum wage, whereas the companies would not go further than 12/3. Was it worth while running the risk of disaster for this difference? We arcaware that the men have put themselves ill the wrong by refusing to go to the Arbitration Court; but one must remember that by its action in settling the coal dispute outside the Court, the Government has encouraged workers to take up ihis attitude. We believe that notwithstanding this mistake by the miners, the bulk of public sympathy will be with then- rather than with the cot-panics. Tie c.j.ges offered by the companies will he compared with wages paid elsewhere. IV - example, the offer of 123 as a minimum was made about th- titv.e. that, the , Government raised the wag's of public wt-ihs labourers to 1.1/. Put our desire now is not so much to go into the meriis of the case, as to plead for forbearance on both sides that will lead to a speedy settlement. A message we publish to-day from Waihi shows that the town i-< threatened with ruin. Possibly the companies might not lose so much through a long spell of idleness as one would suppose, but the town would certiinly Buffer very severely. Men v ill leave Waihi in large numbers if the strike continues, but how many of them will return? In the interests of all concerned, the parties should come together again, and if thcy'will not do so of their own accord, the Government should do its utmost to persuade them. The Government, of course, is not idle, but we doubt if it is doing enough. In a serious case like this the Minister of Labour should intervene at once, and go to the scene as soon as possible*. Massev. unfortunately, is still unable to take full duly, but he might send one of his Ministers to handle the situation. ThM'e should be no need for the Waihi people to send a deputation all the way to Wellington. Whatever is done should be done on the spot and at once, for settlement of the dispute is hourly becoming more difficult.