PLEA FOR "NATIONALISATION"

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1918, Page 8

PLEA FOR "NATIONALISATION"

Mr. P. Fraser spoke on "The Coal Crisis: The Need of Nationalisation," at a meeting last evening in the Alexandra Hal!, convened by the Social Democratic Party. Commenting on tho retail coal dealers' statements, he remarked that, even, on their own figures, a retail price of 2s 3d per cwt. of slack had given them a profit of 9s a ton, which Mr. Fraser declared. was.exorbitant, especially on such poor-quality slack. Private ownership of the coalindustry had provided too much opportunity for exploitation. The only satisfactory remedy would be complete State ownership and control, from the mine to the consumer. It was necessary for tho State to have its own shipping for this purpose, and its own system of distribution, scientifically organised; •■ -•. ■ The speaker remarked that the voting of the miners' unions gave practically ■unanimous support to the executive of the Miners' Federation. Therefore the last excuse of the mine-owners for refusing to meet the miners' representatives in conference had vanished. In the circumstances, on behalf of the general public, tho Government should insist on a compulsory conference.

Sir James Allen left this afternoon for the South to attend the Otira Tunnel ceremony. He remarked that he did not anticipate any big change in tho mining situation before his return to Wellington next Thursday morning.