Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 16676, 7 March 1918, Page 4

It is obvious that a certain section of the miners in the West IVlisclllßVoUS Coast collieries is deStrikes, liberately raising indus-

trial strife for some special purpose. In two mines this week tho men have ceased work for extremely trivial reasons. Tho Millerton Miners' Union decided to down tools because ten of their members refused to pav a lew of 21 per cent, on behalf of the sufferers from the recent disastrous strike in Australia; and the miners at Paparoa colliery refused to begin work last Monday for a mysterious reason, which (as has been 'reported vaguely) may have been "any one of four causes, not omittin R the military aspect " As far as the public havo been'permitted to see, there lias been nothing to justify a strike or even a temporary cessation" of work. What could employers do, for example, in the matter of the refusal of ten men at Millerton mine to pav a levy on behalf of the victims of the' Australian strike? They cannot compel their employees to pay such levies, and it would be a sorry- condition for Labor generally it employers had statutory power to exercise coercive tyranny by dismissing men who refused to pay levies fixed at the caprice of a federation of agitators. Then what sort of peculiar insanity is it that permits an Administration to " stand idlv by and tolerate in time of critical war tho disturbance of an essential industry on so flimsy a pretext? The public will" find it impossible to spare even a sympathetic thought for the mischievous miners who without reason, are deliberately precipitating trouble on the West Coast Coalminers generally, and particularly those on the West Coast, are in a remarkably position. Their conditions of labor are satisfactory, oven though undergroundthey can earn at least £1 per dav without exhausting themselves; they are exomut from military service and from the rigor and risk of war amidst ghastly conditions and for meagre reward in the material sense let no class of workers in the Dominion approach the miners as regards readiness to cause industrial strife. Probably the real reason for this unpatriotic policy on the part of a misguided section" of A'ew Zealand coal-miners lies with a feeble Administration, representing a sort of cooperative company! of political trimmers. The miners remember their easy triumph last year over the politicians. Tho cautious message from Greymouth referring to the " military aspect " of the cessation of work at Paparoa mine means, of course, the movement for the exemption of Mr P. C. Webb, M.P., from military service. There is no other military aspect to be considered, except it be tho military aspect that the West Coast miners ignore: the necessity for producing coal for military transports, essential factories, and naval patrol vessels. The miners have no grievance against, the Military Service Act, which dees not disturb their general interests nor interfere with their personal liberty in a peaceful and prosperous land. So it is clear that the military aspect of the cessation of work at Paparoa colliery means the conscription of Mr Webb, who has been led to believe that he, as a member of Parliament, is essential to the West Coast miners. His belief is likely to be shattered. The outstanding weakness throughout the war in all the belligerent countries has been political, and very few politicians could carry a claim that they are essential as such. If the Administration, as a result of the practice of a policy of coercive irritation by the miners, yield to the demand for the exemption of Mr they will forfeit their right to the

confidence and support of the country. It is possible that the irritating trouble on the West Coast is raised for the purpose of forcing another substantial increase in wages. A demand has been made for a further 20 per cent, increase, but the mineowners, in view of tho evidence as to the earnings of the men during the past year, cannot see their way clear to grant such an increase and pass it on to the public. Past experience has, however, taught the miners that tho easiest way to obtain their demands is by scaring tho politicians. It looks as though a section of the West Coast miners is playing tho old game. It is to be'hoped that the Administration will this year be firm and unyielding.