COAL FOR THE NAVY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1153, 14 June 1911, Page 6

COAL FOR THE NAVY.

DOMINION MINERS* ATTITUDE. Negotiations which have lately been conducted by Lieutenant Sydenham (resident agent of the Admiralty at Westport), and tho executive of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, in reference to guaranteeing supplies of coal required for naval purposes, have now been brought to a termination. On .behalf of the Admiralty, Lieutenant Sydenham asked tho federation to agree tiint, in the event of a strike at any time, coal-miners should continue their labours for a day or two, or for as" long as might be necessary to maintain tho Admiralty supplies. This proposal was discussed at length by tho federation executive, which decided not to enter into any binding' agreenient. Tho reply made to Lieutenant Sydenham was that, in tho event ot ail industrial orisis, tho federation would deal, upon its merits, with any application by tho Admiralty for supplies of coal.

Asked last evening whether "the merits of the case" would not bo ail on ono side ;n the event of coal being needed by warships in time of war, Mr. R. Scmplo (organiser to tho Federation of Labour) stated that the New Zealand miners had nj idea of taking anv sectional action in trying to prevent war. "We would not to so stupid," said Mr. scrapie, Tmt there is a growing feeling throughout tho world among coal-mineis that war is a relic of barbarism, and that they hold in their hands a great power to prevent it. Most wars are got up in the interests of capitalists, and are ascribablo to a greed for markets or territory. Wo retain ,our freedom, should tho matter arise as an international question, to fall into lino with our brethren in other countries by joining with them in a united effort to prevent tho outbreak of war organised in tho interests of capitalists. Wo. look to a time when the intelligence of tho working classes will make war impossible." Asked what stand tho miners of New Zealand wohld take if Britain engaged in a just war, Mr. Semplo replied that presumably, in that event, no attempt would 1)0 made to obstruct the Admiralty in obtaining cool supplies. Concluding, Mr. Scrapie reiterated that tho miners would, in any case, only tako action with a view to tho prevention of war as an international organisation. They recognised that local and isolated attempts of this nature would be futile. Mr. W. A. Flavcll, local manager for tho Westport Coal Company, staled that, so far as he knew, tho mine-owners of New Zealand had not been officially approached by tho Admiralty with a pro-' posal on the lines of that submitted to the Federation of Labour. At tho samo time, though ho could not answer for tiio mining companies, ho did not think that they would have any hesitation, iu acceding to'the wishes of'tho Admiralty. No doubt, if the men, by agreeing to work, made tho tiling possible, tho companies would be quite willing to open their mines for the provision of naval supplies in times of industrial crisis. Common sense indicated that they would readily meet the requirements of (ho Admiralty in this matter.