COAL SHORTAGE AND A STRIKE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 82, 7 April 1943, Page 2

COAL SHORTAGE AND A STRIKE

THE people of any district where a doctor has been long established •are likely to feel disquiet if he leaves and is not replaced; and the disquiet is likely to be greater if there is in the district an industry with a large number of workers,- all subject to injury in the course of •:': their employment. The feeling of the Hikurangi and Kamo miners is therefore easily Understood, but their action in striking cannot be ... condoned. There are few districts, in city, town or country, in which ■i-s "it has been possible to maintain medical services at the pre-war standard; ■•; •• and. probably there are some" districts in a position much worse than " : : - Hikura'ngi's; but it has not occurred to residents of other districts that they should go on strike to, emphasise their displeasure. The miners' . \ union is one of a small minority of unions- which believe—and unfortunately they have been given some reason to believe—that direct action ; pays.. It seems almost perverse to mention that the strike is illegal; the -Minister of Labour did not mention it, although, as a Minister, he has sworn to uphold the law. Meanwhile, reports of the strike will be ~. , .contrasted with the statement by the Minister concerning the ■ coal position. Mr. Webb showed the position to be grave; he would have no difficulty .in impressing the public with that fact. But, judging from ■ the happenings at Hikurangi, he has not impressed the coal miners. It remains .his duty to do so.