Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, September 21, 1923. GO-SLOW FIGHT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1923, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, September 21, 1923. GO-SLOW FIGHT.

The coal-mining dispute is following its expected course, there being no go-slow in the oratory by certain Labour leaders in their attempt to prove that black is white. No defence has been made for Ihe miners declining to do a fair day’s work, the “arguments” used being mainly denunciations of the bloated capitalists and the employing class. Air. Holland, M.P., ' has volunteered to be the Don Quixote of the campaign, and tilting at windmills apparently makes him happy. He expresses indignation at the “lock-out,” and ignores the opinion of legal experts that the owners have not infringed the law. The clause in the award, under which the dismissals took place, provides, inter alia, “That if any workman misconducts himself, or either openly or secretly incites, instigates, assists, or endeavours to influence the other workers 1o disregard the provisions of any clause of this award, or the operation of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act and its amendments, such workman shall be liable to instant dismissal.” The owners have declared their wil-

lingness to re-open the mines 1T Hie men will carry out the terms ol' the award, and, indeed, had this been, done before, the dispute would never have arisen. In the absence of a real defence of the men's tactics, suggestions are now made by Labour circles that the owners’ action is part of a deep-laid plot io ruin Labour’s political prospects. The absurdity of this idea is obvious. and those who lather it show that they realise the go-slow campaign itself cannot be excused. The latest, move by the. men s leaders is Io appeal to oilier unions lor financial support. Il must lie agreei I I lia I wll.’ll ever I lie Weak - nesses of flic men’s cause, llicir wives and i |i ■ pm 11 li ■ 11 f s should nol >'.o liu i igry, a i id i I I hese a re in want, doubtless ready aid will he fol I licoming. Whether that stage has vet been i eaclied is probleiim I ie,d. seeing that, the closing of the mines is a ven reeeill ocenrreiiee. .\lorco\ er l lie miners should not forget I ha I. I h rough I hei r inaction, many men in oilier oiti i pa I ions have Io:.1 I lieir \\ a"i";. and it would he more loj’ii’al for I he eri'lHg miller, Io .subsidise 1.1i0:.c on whom they

have inflicted loss, rather than that appeals should be made to their victims. It is easy advocacy to buttress support of the miners’ mistakes by appeals on behalf of the women and children, but it would be better for the miners’ 1 ami lies, if work were resumed and as much money earned as possible by doing a. fair day’s work. It may be magnificent and class-conscious lor single men to vote for go-slow, and as soon as the challenge is accepted by the owners, to pack up and clear out for other industrial fields, but the married miners have to bear the brunt. So far even the Labour Press has not been able to announce to an expectant world that the unmarried agitators have resolved to devote part of their earnings away from the Coast to replenish the dwindling purses of their married colleagues. On the other hand the “Argus” candidly confesses that “the single men locked out have, in a large number of cases left the mining camps in a, determination to maintain themselves at other occupa-

tions.” To maintain themselves I A noble ideal, which should be reflected upon by those who have been led astray by them. It is time the miners’ wives, exerted their influence, and urged their menfolk that they should admit their mistake, and agree to return to work, meanwhile, leaving the Disputes Committee to adjust any real grievance.