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Evening Star, Issue 16409, 27 April 1917, Page 4

As an organised class the men employed at the State colTho Stats Miners liery at Runaima Again. appear to be the “ Devil’s own ” union. They are "first and deepest in all the troubles that afflict their industry, and when there is no trouble and no cause for it they .make trouble. These are the workers who were once supposed to prove that, given State control of an essential industry, the folly of strikes had gone for ever. These are the sort of men with whom Ministerial envoys last week sat to 3 o’clock on© morning framing the flimsiest and most freakish strike settlement agreement that has ever been made between shrewd workers and snpine politicians. The disquieting instability of the remarkable terms of the Ministerial settlement of the West Coast coal .miners’ rebellious strike has been emphasised almost farcically by the latest action of the State colliers. Actually before the administrative ambassadors to the West Coast had time to explain the agreement to a dissatisfied country; the State’s pampered colliers at Ruuanga suspended work yesterday,' not because of any industrial grievance or quarrel with their easy employers, and not against “ Conscription and nothing else but Conscription,” but as a protest against new regulations in regard to workmen’s railway- tickets between Runanga and Dunollie to the Rewanui mine. Sir James Allen has stated that he cannot understand men leaving work for such a cause, as it was inconceivable that they should do such a thing. It is not difficult for other people to understand why the .State colliers have done such a thing. The miners have learned that the National Government, influenced, no doubt, by the abnormal needs of the country in connection with its military enterprise, have assumed responsibility for the settlement of all sorts of workers’ disputes during the war, and probably the men, fortified by recent experience, imagine that they are dealing with a weak combination of politicians whose very existence is built on compromise. It is a pity if that should be the miners’ notion, for there is a tremendous need for an Administration with a giant's strength. What would be the result if all the people, organisations, industries, and institutions seriously affected by the now railway regulations were to adopt the retaliatory methods of the State miners, who are lightly affected by the same regulations?—a chaos that would demand a drastic change in a weak Administration. That is the feeling- of the

conntiy, and it is time the National Government know it. They must definitely answer the question whether or not the State miners are going to control the State.

The Runanga Miners’ Executive decided last night (it is reported) not to resume work unless the Railway Department’s attitude regarding workers’ tickets is changed. It may be that the department has shown very little tact, and it may be that the new regulations are unjust and intolerably irksome. But surely there is an important principle at stake: the/priuciple of compelling even the State colliers to accept the conditions 'thrust upon all tho people. It appears that formerly the State miners’ railway tickets were available for a 'fortnight, and That now, under the new regulations, the concession contained in the issue of the tickets will be available for one working week only—from Monday to Saturday. This means that the men must attend work every dav in order to got the full value of their tickets, which cost _4s each for a daily distance of 14 miles. In other words, the miners may travel 84 miles for 4s. What more do they want? To strike on so flimsy a pretext as that now put before tho Government is to demonstrate that they laugh at the impotence of the State. As we have said before, it is time the vStato colliery was abandoned as a hopeless failure as a Utopian experiment in State control of an essential industry. The minor’s attempt to control tho State and defy their responsible employers. As to the terms of the settlement of the recent rebellions strike, the colliers undoubtedly have scored. They contrived to use tho Government as a lever to move the employers to concede tho remarkable demands of the men. To avert national distress and even disaster, the employers will he appealed to on patriotic grounds. If the employers agree tho public, who would never dream of defying Jaw and order, will have to pay a big increase in tho price of coal, say from 3s to 5s a ton, according to quality. It is a sorry business, and one upon which it is impossible to congratulate the Administration. It is true that tho National Government may claim to have saved the Military Service Act; but there will be nothing in tho claim, for tho Act was never seriously endangered. The Federation have made if, clear that their defiant rebellion against Conscription was nothing mors than a bold ruse to set aside the statutory machinery’ for adjusting industrial dktputcs as between workers and employers, and to obtain their ends through Ministerial interference. That is the truth, and Ministers have established a dangerous precedent. The Arbitration Court and the Conciliation Councils have been overridden by the National Government. Then, the miners 'nave promised to abandon their “go-slow” policy on the promise of Sir James Allen and tho lion. W. D. S. Mac Donald that the Government will not press for penalties. Is that condition really worth the paper it was written on? The thing is a delusion. And the Government are to make it plain to the Military Service Boards “ that all essential “workers in an essential industry, in coal “and gold mining, shall have their appeals “allowed.” Who is to determine the essential value of such workers the unions, the employers, the Military Service Boards, or the Government? Everybody, cave tho members of the Government, knows quite well that there are workers in coal mining to-day who are not essential miners at all, and never could bo essential miners. There are miners so-called to whom their employers would give a hearty send-off to the war. Several of these men are usually high up in tho ranks of the Federation’s agitators; but they are to ho exempted from the disciplinary service that would do them good, and are to he left- to precipitate strikes over railway regulations. It is a pathetic mid humiliating business at its best.

The checking_ of last Wednesday’s votes for City Councillors is now being carried out under the supervision of the returning officer (Mr G. A. Lewiiij, who hopes to announce the official figures on Monday next, prior to the first meeting of the council on Wednesday, to appoint committees. It is said that the next chairman of the Hospital Board is likely to be Mr W. E. S. Knight (chairman of the Finance Committee of the board). At the annual parish meeting of St. Mary’s, Moniington, held last night, it was resolved unanimously and bv acclamation—“ That as the women do such a large amount of the work in connection with the church it is only- right _that they should be allowed to vote at parish meetings.” Hie official returns of the City (Mayoral election have now been compiled. As a result of a readjustment of the informal votes, originally given as 169, and the finding of additional ballot papers put into the wrong boxes, the official figures are * Clark 8,552, Green 6,190, informal 141. a majority of 2,372 for Mr Clark. The figures previously given were: Clark 8,571, Green 6,179. Eleven votes have been given to Mr Green and 9 votes taken off Mr Clark’s original total. Probate in Otago matters have been granted by His Honor at Wellington in the following estates ;—Alexander Middleton, Charles Clarke, Robert Ellis Stevenson, (Mary Elizabeth Bertrand, Robert Brown, and George Farquharson. Letters of administration have been granted in the estate of Mary Muir. The Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) has received close on 500 telegrams and letters congratulating him on his success. The Acting Prime Minister (Sir J. Allen), the Hon. A. L. Herdman, the Hon. G. W. Russell, and the Mayors of Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch all sent him wires. The amalgamation of the Drainage Board with the City Council takes place in June next. Crs Shacklock, Small, and Kellett are at present members of the board, while Crs Douglas and Hancock are ex-members. A Drainage Committee will be set up in the council. First Otago Military Service Board’s next sitting will be at Oaniaru on Thursday, May 3. They sit at Dunedhl the next afternoon, then follows (Milton the same (Friday) night, Queenstown Saturday, Gore (Monday, and Invercargill Tuesday. The sittings at the last four mentioned places are for the purpose of hearing adjourned appeals only. On dit that the lease of the Grand Hotel will expire in a few months, and tnat the new licensee is likely to be a gentleman interested in hotel property in Wellington and Christchurch. The trustees of the Cawthron estate, Nelson, are purchasing a further £5,000 worth of war bonds, making £IO,OOO so invested. Under the late Mr Cawthron’s will a fine observatory is to be established at Annesbrook, a few miles out of Nelson. Mr Paulin telephoned at 2 p.m. :—S.E. to N.W. winds; rain showers in 24 hours. We have heard of one coal mine somewhere in Otago the proprietary of which offered to give their employees'a bonus of 5 per cent, over and above the war bonus of 10 per cent., but the offer was turned down because the federation did not desire that an unhealthy precedent should be established ! If the offer had been accepted the miners would have received an extra shilling per day from the time of the last abortive conference in Wellington.

It would seem as if the butcher hawking cart will soon be a thing of the past as far as Dunedin is concerned. While there were some 45 or 60 hawking carts in use here a few years ago, there are said to be less than a dozen now ; in fact, they have been disappearing from the road at the rate of about one a month. This seems to be partly accounted for by the rapid growth of the cash-over-the-counter system of nuxchaohur moA

ih o ‘Ba hint ha Free Press’ states that the outbreak of diphtheria at Stirling has by no means abated, and three fresh cases were reported on Wednesday. There is a strong feeling of protest in Ivaitangata owing to the medical profession sending the Stirling diphtheria cases to the hospital there. It appears that the diphtheria patients have been put into the fever ward, and tho fever patients have been removed to the main ward, which is supposed to be for accidents. The hospital authorities held a special meeting, and sent a strong letter of protest to the Dunedin Board, with the result that instructions were received from that body to move the fever patients into Dunedin, and put the diphtheria cases in the fever ward, but tho committee objected, saying that the diphtheria cases should have been sent to Dunedin. The Health Inspector was out yesterday, and he conferred with the •Kaitangata Hospital Committee, and he arranged to transfer the fever cases into Dunedin. Tho diphtheria cases are still left in the accident ward, and there is a great feeling of indignation in the town about it. if an accident happens in the mine now there is no place to put tho patient. Members of the High School Board of Governors to-day paid a visit of inspeclion to the Boys’ and Girls’ Hipli Schools. The governors present were Air T. K. Sidoy, M.T., Mr John Ross, Mr 11. Webb, and Mr W. R. Brugh. At a late hour on Wednesday night, while the Rev. R. Raine, of the Cargill Road Methodist Church,' was riding along Cargill road on his bicycle, he was overtaken by a motor car. Tho impact was a severe one, Mr Raino being thrown violently to tho ground, sustaining painful injuries to one, cS his legs. The young man picked Mr Raine up and conveyed him to his residence. Fortunately no bones wore broken, but thu leg is very painful, and Air Raine is at present confined to his house. The bicycle was badly knocked about. The Cargill Road Methodist Church anniversary services are to be held on Sunday, and Air Raine was to have conducted the evening service, but ho will probably not bo able to do so. During the year of the Otago A. and P. Society, just closed the sum of £930 5s 2d was raised and handed over to the Otago patriotic funds, this amount having been raised during last year’s Winter Show. Taliuna Park has also during the year been given five of. cost for encampments, drills, for which the committee of the society have received tile special thanks of tho t Minister of Defence. Some time ago the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce made a suggestion to tho Union Steam Ship Company that a more frequent service should be inaugurated between northern ports and Dunedin for the purpose" of bringing urgent transhipment cargoes to this port. As is well known, certain cargo which is sent to the Dominion is either discharged at a northern port, and a delay ensues before tho Dunedin portion is sent along by another steamer, or else some time elapses before the vessel reaches this port- The efforts of the Chamber of Commerce arc evidently bearing fruit, as a large consignment of general merchandise is now being landed on tho Dunedin wjiarvcs from a steamer which came to the port direct. The cargo brought by this vessel is most important, and by calling hero first local merchants will receive their consignments much quicker than is usually the case. At the last monthly meeting of the town planning branch of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society two items of considerable interest to the public of Dunedin were fully discussed. The first was tho neglected state in which a number of our citizens are content to leave their street frontages. Dilapidated fences and vacant plots of grounds growing docks and all manner of noxious weeds are common in various parts of our City. It was felt by T members that if owners and’ occupiers of these properties were given a timely hint they would be willing to attend to these matters, and so greatly improve the appearance of tho town and suburbs. If a few of the chief offenders would only take this to heart the force of their good example would be an incentive to others, to follow. Tile second matter referred to Aas the use of neglected parts of our reserves and Town Belt for the growing of potatoes and vegetables. It was felt that the idea that plots of vacant ground should he lent to citizens for their own private use for tlie growing of food products would be a most admirable way of doing something practical in tho way of providing against universal world food shortage, and would also be a very 'profitable investment for those people in our midst who have tho will and energy to take part in this scheme. The hope was expressed that the new City Council would give this scheme all the assistance possible. 'Hie election for the mavoraltv of Balclutha, resulted in the return of’Air-Alex. APNeil, who polled 176 votes. Air E. J. Boyd obtained 169 votes, and Air G. W. AVood 91. In the election for councillors -Mr W. Brunten topped tho poll with 364, Alessrs J. D. Landels and W. G. Firm coming next with 362.

For a- considerable time serious doubts have been entertained as fco tho genuineness of ninny of the cablegrams received by parents from their sons at the front or on furlough asking for remittances. In the majority of cases the money asked for has been cabled without any inquiries, but (wires our Christchurch coirespondent) numerous cases have been inquired into, and it must be admitted that the instances where tho senders have been cruelly victimised have been proved to be exceptionally large. A special case was mentioned to a reporter to-day. On Easter Tuesday Mr J. V.'. Smith, of the Kaiapoi warehouse, received what purported to bo a cablegram from ins sou, who is at the front. It originated in Loudon, and was worded as follows: “Smith. Kaiapoi, Christchurch.—Well. Cable tenner to paymaster, London.—Smith.’' The wording of the cablegram struck Mr Smith as peculiar, and unlike the phraseology likely to he employed by his son. Not desiring to fall into a trap, and being aware that many fraudulent cablegrams bad reached parents and friends of soldiers, he sent the following message to his son: “Have yon cabled for money?” Tho reply came promptly this time, addressed to Mr .Smith’s private address, at 169 Tancred street: "No; not requiring money.— Robert f-'mith.” There can bo nO doubt as to the genuineness of the second cablegram, and tho only deduction to be made is that the first cablegram was a deliberate attempt to commit, a fraud. Mr Smith states that about the same time ns he received the first cablegram a lady of bis acquaintance received what purported to be a cablegram from her soldier son asking for a ten-pound note. Not thinking that the cablegram was other than genuine, she at once despatched £ls. She'is now wondering whether she too has been the victim of the London “sharper.” Backed by a. strong citizens’ committee, the Auckland Young Men’s Christian Association are appealing for £25.000 towards the war work of the association. The appeal has been made to the whole of the Auckland province, and the response has been particularly generous. A number of subscriptions of £I,OOO have been secured, and about a dozen of £SOO and over. The £IO,OOO mark was passed some days ago. and there is every prospect that tho whole amount will be subscribed. Liberal responses have also been made in other provinces in New Zealand. In Otago Central during the past few weeks over £2.000 has been subscribed towards the Y.M.C.A. funds for work among the soldiers. Many urgent calls for the association’s assistance have been made by both officers and men at the front, and it is the Y.M.C.A. National Committee's desire to meet these calls as far ns possible.

“Splendid! This Watson’s No. 10 Whisky is indeed a treat. My, but it is lovely!’ [Advt.] A glass of Speight’s beer at lunch and supper is better than all the tea in China.— [Advt.] The* figures published yesterday in regard to the half-holiday poll refer to 'Wanganui, and net to Auckland, as was stated. A sale of work (promoted by the Sunday school teachers, scholars, and Bible classes of Knox Church is to be held to-morrow in the school hall. A special feature will bo the .choice collection of chrysanthemums, which flower is at present at its best. The object of the sale is to. help the missions

Akaroa’s lake-like harbor, surrounded by its lovely green hills, 2£ hours’ enchanting motor drive from Christchurch. There the visitor gains health, strength, and happiness.—[Advt.] ’ We have always a good word for “No Rubbing” Laundry Help, hecaiW it has justly earned its wonderful reputation as fhe abolisher of washboard slavery, and also because a “Thinker’s” Notebook ia given free with every Is packet. Wolfenden and Russell, South Dunedin.—[Advt.] A meeting of builders and merchants will he held in the Empire Buildings on Monday to consider tho situation in connection, with the stoppage of the carriage of timber, etc., on the railways. , Watson’s No. 10 is a little dearer than most whiskies, bat is worth the money.— [Advt.l People who use the Mosgiel and Port Chalmers railway lines should take note of an advertisement in this issue respecting additional Saturday suburban trains.