APPEAL TO MINERS

Evening Star, Issue 25895, 12 September 1946, Page 11

APPEAL TO MINERS

NO “ ELECTION " TIME LIMIT NAMED HARD WORKERS ASKED TO WORK HARDER (Special) WELLINGTON, Sept. .12. The nature of the appeal made to the miners of Waikato by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, was made clear in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon.

Mr Fraser said there was no request that the suggested increase in coal production should be up to the General Election. No such time limit had been set. and the appeal had been for increased production on an already good output to help the country and its industries

The time that had elapsed since he visited Huntly was not long enough to record a definite production trend, said Mr Fraser. A slight increase in production ' had, however, been recorded over the last seven weeks in comparison with the previous similar period. 1 The Prime Minister was replying to a question by Mr W. A. Slieat. (Nat., Patea), who asked whether any noticeable response had followed “ the recent urgent appeal to the miners at Huntly to produce more coal, at least until after the election.”

In the discussion on his reply, Mr Fraser said that he had gone on to say at the meeting that there were two wavs in which the Labour Government could be defeated. One was politically, bv means, of defeat at the hands of their political opponents, and the other was where, even if returned, the Government would be defeated industrially unless the industries were kept going. He had urged the workers ,to do their best, and he knew they were getting the fullest co-operation, but in asking men to work harder when, they were already • working hard, one could not expect miracles. If the goodwill of the miners and other industrial workers could be kept it would help the country to emerge from difficulties which he hoped were only temporary. (Mr Fraser added that he hoped there would be. an opportunity to discuss the question of nationalisation of the mines at greater length before the end of the session. A Parliamentary Committee in 1918 had. recommended not, only the nationalisation of the mines, but the establishment of a line of State ships to run the coal. It seemed that some members of the Opposition, possibly because they had not studied the matter, were 30 , years behind those gentlemen, sohie of whom were looked upon, even then, as hopelessly conservative.

“ There was a gross misrepresentiitioh in the question asked by Mr Sheat.” said the Postmaster-General, Mr Webb. “ I was very pleased when I was overseas to hear so much favourable comment on New Zealand’s coal production. The Prime Minister has been very helpful, and he did away with much ‘ discontent that Was primarily due. to mining conditions. Most of the stoppages in the mines are due to the attitude of the companies and the managers, and the Prime Minister’s attempt to create harmony is to be commended.”

The Minister declared that.the people of New Zealand should take their hats off to the miners, and the day would come when they would receive the reward to which they were justly entitled.