Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1923. MINING DEADLOCK.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 November 1923, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1923. MINING DEADLOCK.

It is regrettable that the conferences and the efforts made lids week to settle flit' West Coast mining dispute did not meet with success, but it would be wrong not to persevere with the task of peacemaking. The stoppage at the mines is doing neither side any good, and the evil consequences will be. felt most by the men and their dependents in the weeks to come; the Christmas festivities in many households are likely to be meagre. One useful purpose served by recent discussions is to focus the real cause of the dispute, namely, some of the men’s leaders’ antipathy to industrial arbitration, They prefer direct action, — al the workers’ expense. When 1 he dispute opened, the men’s grievances were alleged to be connected with “wet places,” “pillar working,” and similar items, but little stress is laid on these factors Io day, and the truth is bluntly shown. Reference of disputes Io I he Arbitration Court is not '--.4

favoured by the agitators who wish to usurp the place of nation-ally-appointed umpires and take to themselves the right of saying what is, or what is not, to be done. No industry could hope to prosper under such irresponsible menace, and the coal-owners can scarcely he blamed for refusing to acknowledge this despotism over property not belonging to the strife-seekers. The Labour Press and the men’s advisers complain that the miners’ case is misrepresented by the ‘‘capitalistic” Press, but reference to our morning contemporary’s ‘‘defence” of the miners’ attitude is proof of its weakness. To -quote, as the “Argus” does, the large profits of the Pukemiro Collieries with a direct inference that West Coast mines are similarly remunerative to the owners, is not fair play, and does the Coast miners’ cause no good. Public opinion, including that of the bulk of trades unionists, is convinced that whatever its defects the Arbitration Court is of benefit to the workers, and to the progress of national industries, and this substance will not be exchanged lightly for the shadow of agitators’ promises. When the miners based their appeal for support on objections to certain conditions of the industry, some response was forthcoming, even if comparatively small, but when such appeal is seen to be founded on desire to destroy the industrial arbitration system, their friends arc sure to decrease in numbers. It is to be hoped that the miners will recognise the facts of the situation, and arrange to modify their demands accordingly. Every week from work means great loss in wages, and the relief funds so far are insignificant relatively. The country so far, has suffered no inconvenience through the closing of the mines, and the miners not affected are reaping a harvest. There has been no “sympathetic” strike anywhere, and altogether the unemployed miners cannot feel satisfied at the way events have developed. Is itjiot time that wiser coufisels prevailed?