INDUSTRIAL BULLIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 80, 28 December 1917, Page 11

INDUSTRIAL BULLIES

PRANK IMPEACHMENT OF COALMINERS. Coal-miners were the industrial bullies of Australia nntil two months ago, when (says the "Australasian"), without any cause, they dislocated industry by a wanton strike in sympathy with a section of the railway employees of New South Wales. They were then taught tho sharp lesson that there was a. limit even to the pliability of politicians, to the sympathy of Courts, imd to the patience of the public. Every efficient coal-miner was earning high wages, and enjoyed short hours. It was notorious 'hat when miners had earned enough for the week many of them knocked 'iff, without any regard for tho interests of their employers or of the public, and went fishing. The extensive plants in New South AVales were designed to maintain a continuous output for three shifts over 24 hours, with intervals between shifts mid breaks for "crib." But the lords of the industry decreed that only ono shift was to be worked, and in consequence hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of capital was not employed to the bost advantage. The extravagant wages, the throttling of machinery, and the slowing down have so increased the cost of coal that none of the Australian industries enjoys any advantage from the fact that immense deposits of coal lie near it. The miners have put a huge burden on industry for which, everyone iu the community pays. Success in every arrogant claim te& them into their wanton and disloyal demonstration in August last. The leaders, whose malevolence was equalled only by their stupidity, should now bo j hiding in. shame. But they are out! again with, more complaints and moro grievances, unmindful of tho-fact that people have sore complaints and soro grievances against them. Tho men cannot- expect to re-establish themselves in their old position of impudent autocracy. They have forfeited iheir right to be admitted even into the councils of law-abiding people. Men lacking the elements of good manners, the first principles of honesty, and some elementary rules of loyalty, cannot to allowed to control the industrial life of Australia-