Grey River Argus. and Blackball News

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1912, Page 4

Grey River Argus. and Blackball News

Delivered every moruing 1 , in Grejmouth. Kiimara, Hokitika,. Dobson, Wallsendr Taylorvilje, Brunnertou, Stillwater. Ngabere, Blackball, Nelsou Creek, ALaura, Ikninatiia, \Vainta, Reeffcon, Crouodmi, Eunauga, Dunpllie, Cobden, Baxter's, Kokiri, Patarn;* Eaimata. Aratika, Kotuku, Moana, Ruru, Te Kinjsa, Botouaanu, Poerna, Tiicliboiiuio, Jankspns and Otira.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19th, 1912,

Thk workers throughout the .' world ssein to have been completely captured f 'by the strike theory. They "seem to regard the . right to throw down their, tools and aibsoluttly refuse to work as their charter of liberty and the unfailing- remedy for all the wrongs, real or imaginary, that tbiey profess to suffer from. This would be very well if . the ■ strike were the cure — all that the more extremely enthusiastic Unionists " imagine it is. If it '.were society would also have to recognise its industrial value and cast about to ■discover sonic less drastic but equally effective means of. securing, industrial peace. While labour strikes fail .more often, than, they succeed, it must be admitted, that if the worker did .not. sometimes rebel they would /have- ■■•but , Tittle chance of bettering their condition. Still, as all industrial -disputes have ultimately " to be settled' by quieti converse around a lable of the representatives of the disputants, one cannot escape the idea that it would be a. great deal better ■tq-.tset efch efficiency of such a.conference /before a strike than after one, and often -one that may have entailed such- financial loss and human misery as characterised the ■coal-miners/ strike recently in South Wales. Buy all these arguments have been used over • and- over again by a thousand pens .without avail. The belief in the justice and 'efficacy of strikes seems to 'bo as strong as ever. Yet avo find ourselves using the same old arguments that because the workers al'c go' that they have grievances — and too often have good reason --for doing il» — thatl is no reason' why *hoy shqu'd make a non-offending society si'ffexBut when Labour is in a 'i.ver or anger from discontent it cue? not stop to consider tho n'gnts o\ ci'^rs any more than an extreme Unionist \yould hesitate to persecute, starve or crucify a non-unionist. On Labour questions the enthusiastic Unionist will not rccogpiisc the right -of freedom of action or. the holding: of in independent opinion. These reflcc-^ Woiis' arc " suggested' by" the tone ot the cable news of ycEtcrdkV •'morning.' The indications all pomt ' to' ihp 'txtrcmc probability ot f a gr.eat, .md not at all improbably,,- an Mnpreoedented industrial upheaval. Thet co»! miners of England 'have declared by an' Ovoi*whelminir majority in favour 'of a national strike. If iby any chance such an eventnya-s precipitated, r there is nQ guarantee that' the continental and colonial coalminers would not sl:|P\v their sympathy by following s»u:t. One of tho greatest ideals of Labour n\ modern days is "to "concentrate its strength against Capital. That" is the leading, idea of the I. WAV. It, is the very essence of Professor Mills's philosophy aucl teaching. Though he may deprecate an.vthing in the nature of actual violence, which seems to' be inseparable from' 'any- great strike, iho evidently relies on ths preponderance nud power of numbers. \Vtihout k now stopping Vo speculate on the probable, effects or the ultimate development ot such a general striko as we have .in- . dicated) it is- enough to direct atten'tioh at present t'o^the fact>'that there is <iome danger of such an industrial upheaval as has "110 yet been seen. It is 1 a significant .and ominous looking fact, to ?ee -the British AdmiraKv '.'aying up an unusual stock of coal. But thi s *is not the only instance of forewarned being forearmed.- The Government of this Dominion not very long ago had all the available coal

storage full to overflowing; ahd many business firms also took warning frOni the signs of 'th- time s by making pi-ovisiori for the emergency ! tha* might be caused by a great industrial: dislocation of and commerce,' A good deal will,, of -course, depend, upon how the demands of the coalminers at. Home ar- .met, and satisfied. , It seems as certain- a s anything .can w^ll 'be that if the mineowners" , can se& their way *o nieet the demand s of the men.by placing the^increasea! cost of wages on tho shoulders of th^ public they will do so,, and anjr disa^troi^ results will be .avoidedl Bjitvlf^cn the other hand, 'they- f^e.p^hat^tibey cannoii adopt that course 'a-id^htaiia be forced to close down, Ojen a, reig-h of chaos w^ould set in, unlesijiVivei;!ment Wv a kuplrere^i effort adtoipted some remedial measure. Itis latlVcr seldom in thes£. days co h.ur v.y a labour, "leader Hienounteing^'thtt-i-sit-rifc,©' method and recommending his fel)6wunibnists to disclaim all thought of re 7 lying upon mere numbers or appealing, to brute force. When, we come P,crb % is such : sensible 1 advice, as wa s . givenby: Mr. Lee Martin at ;\Vangan'ui.'.«?n .Tuesday, it is worthy ; ..bf ; the 'widest publicity. .Mr. Martin, is; a Unionisebut in view of the persistent rumours that> a great strike -is •. KkelyVto take place he 'took accasion to warnvhis fel-low-workers "against the danger, x;f attempting to redress their grievances b.y' stjrikies Hnstead f of ■ .legfislatio'iii l>; ' He admitted that lie feared ■%e«e\wasreason to believe a -great Vindusti-i^ upheaval was imminent. "Coming- ? ioiri such a quanrer, the words must b!e regarded as significant, as they', <i?c j€doleiit of the labour atmcsphcTe'. yfir. Martin stands for the ,i>iaintenance'iaF' the right to strike,- but he^ts as ; ardent a stickler that the - strike should not be resorted to . until^all other reasonable means of arriving. at' ai settlement ihad been tried ed:" In such cases the strikers- n?i.;ijt safely count upon the sympathy! ofthe puiblic, but not o l .h^;\v;--e., ..' Mr Martin tried to impr«?ss upon his' heai : ers %at strides were the forerunners of evil, and the best course for iaibour and the community at 'urge wast'» endeavour to redress theirygrieva^ces on legislative lines. Manife&tl/ -'ith^t is tJhe best course. Onca ;the fpmis of laboiir are properly unit*:!, eyrtythirig is possible to them \y: legislar tion. They can, be refuso'd ; rrit}ijng that impossible, and in accordance .,with

reason. It is only the application: : pf common sense that the public at' large can look to as a safeguard against Labour extremists -setting up impra^ticr able and tyrannous demands /" that could only lead to confusion,, disaster^ and general chaos. . It should .never be forgotten that, whait'ever-:happens-the ultimate outcome must be /the upholding of' the law and Ujfe inajnT ; t^nance of . order. ■..;:'.,,'•

Lauodr troubles sometimes/ have a comical side. What! could be more amusing, if 'it Were not so serious, than the refusal of two clipper 'boys to work should be- the imeahs"of idliiig' 800 men at the Eelawain colliery ? Either the arangements for working the- mine -or the -l'ules. of t .'the ; /Union must be a. most! remarkable piece .of machinery ■to make k necessary to idle such an army of able-bodied miners ib.ecause tw'p young boys hawe become obstreperous and -.refuse to work. If such a small matter can^pTet cipitate a trouble like -that" then,. Lar bour is at last! within measurable di&taiice of "the ideal of -the;L-\y.WV)"-wlio consider that an alleged [>inj.ury'fo puo should be held to be an. injury , to aH^. and resented 'by all downing 'tools simultaneously. That t\\p wayward boys should compel ' 800 men to lie i<Ue seems so absurd as to -bp; almostljj?,? credible. But we suppose ."'-.thait; we ihust" believe the cable "agent. •

The "peaceful picketing" iridulgjea in. at Melbourne; may •be good fun for the picketers, ibutt -it -seems ' r fo be anything: but enjoyable to ':_jthe_" nxnf o«j tunate hairdresser, who finds his■■'.citatomers •chased away from his saloon • One can understand now why. unionists arc sq averse that police or; mjlir tary should 1 (be' employed in calming; industrial, commotion. A N^v/^outii Wales Minister the other day at ;£>roken Hill promised that the local, forces should not be made use of iit-:tr;ade troubles. He neglected, however, vso

say anything as 'to making trade' pier ketiin»i really peaceful, or seeing that there would be no need /or either police or military. The ordinary 'police foicc at L.ithg'O'n A\ns half 'a^ dozen^at most, but during the trouble with the owner of the ironworks it was found necessary to keep a force of 70 police sta^'oued there; and the strike has been carried on 'for six months,, with a good dc-al of noting until the police force was very largely strengitlieued to put down the so-called-"peace-ful" picketing thatl prevailed. -\

Sir John' Finrtlay's resign atipn^as Minister of Justice is gazetted. ' t Ensign Middlemiss, of the. Salvation Army, who succeeds Ensign. ißladin, arrived in Nelson last Saturday.

Frank Gotch is anxio.us "to^^ijeet ,i the -winner of the Zybszcpr-:Raicevj[ch match. * : - ' .

- Dr G. P. Baldwin is gazetted Chief Medical Officer and- Health Officer far the Cook Islands.

1 Faulkner the South African cricketer, who toured with the Springboks, broke his -leg whilst placing football iii England.

' The greatest slump in immigration that .has .ever been vcgoi'ded at New York is reported.'

Tuesday night was the skyrmiest known in Reefton for years.' Thunder and lightning and hcaVj; storms- of wind and rain prevailed.

y 'The Australian Mutual Provident Society have agreed to . 'advance • a loan of j£7ooo to Buller County" Council at five per cent.

Mr Thomas Dillon, the weil-kijowfl cpntractor, formerly of Greymouth f/ ,'is at present on a visit to Greymouth, accompanied by his wife.

It is estimated that over "£IOO,OOO in dividends on, dredging shares "has gone to Masterton during- the last ten or twelve years. - *■"■*.-, <■•»-- --: The Mines Department lias granted tho Victory Cohipatiy, Lyell',^ 'a-t siibr sidy at the- rato'of five shillings per foot for driving: a tunnel one~thous~and feet. . - f

A'Californian has invented machinery/fpr pumping .warm air out of a freight car and filly ing, it with cold when perishable articles are T /to .be shipped shprt distances.

' It has been estimated that in Auckland and siisburbs fully 1400 houses have -ftleeri". erected during the p.nst .twelve months, or more than 100 more 'than for 1910.

Victor Thumper is the only man who has jinade". six centuries in test matches against England, bis highest being 185 not out; against P. F. Warner's -1903- team. .

Despite, the fact'that he was eighty^ two yeWs^of age last April arid no longe.r-.ihas the use. of his eyes, General ;•- Booth has comnienced a three weeks- visit to Germany, and Denmark/ 'full of hope and vigour.

':. Owing^to the flooded state of the -rivers the coaches for Cas.s,' were yd'etained again; yesterday. The-Cass to Otira coaches remained at Bealey last night/, and will probably reach Otira in time to catch the .1.45 p.m train .today, arriving here at 6.40 p.m. Jean' Jaures, leader of the French Socialists, in the : Chamber of Deputies will .in -al probability . tour Australia and New Zealand; shorty. It is . Jaures' intention. to deiver' a series of lectures Svhile in the lands of the Southern. Cross.

At 2' o'clock sharp this (Friday) attcrhooji/ Harley and Co Ltd.. favoured with instructions from Ml' Wm. Blanch will sell by public auction at his residence, Preston Road, household, furniture and effects without reserve.. ....;' A

Elsewhere Messrs Mark .Sprot and Co advertise for sale .1200 store slieep on behalf, of Mr E. Riddiford _ from Port -Ligar. The consignment is due ■to' leAve the Sounds per Anchor Line steamer on Saturday niaht and. should arrive .on -Monday. The sale takes place on Wednesday next.

The cost of the recent rise in the pay of -the railway men is estimated to be^^40 4 000 for annum. The contention of the- men was that tb.e increased^ cost -of living made . the increase absolutely necessary. The cost of living iCtuestiori ; still remains unsettled.

A -party from Riverton and the Bluff ■ are. shortly leaving ■ ipr the West } Coast Sounds .on a prospecting expedition. An effort will be -made to: test 'a gold bearing "patch which Mr Torii Cross, senr.. had located previously

"There is no such thing as light work;" said his Honour Judge Parry in a, ; qase at Lambeth County Court. " 'Light work,' is a phrase used under r-fche Compensation Act. I do not think it was ever heard of before the Workmen's Compensation Act."

A London woman has invented a hcadguard for the use^ of the police at iimes of street rioting and disorder "Made of fine mesh aluminium wire net,;, .designed to hang from the helmet ?fo the shoulders.

Living at Tivertori arc three men who worked at. Messrs Heatcoat and Go. 's : lace factory foiv, about seventy years. The ivoungest of the threeMr John Kibbey— is just retiring. The other' two have enjoyed a pension from, the firm for two or -three years past^- „'■•■ '

. Tjie Hon j;. A. Millar at Rotorua declined to discuss the political situa- ' tiph. Several otlier Paliamentaians are visting Rotorua and the general opinion -is that Parliament will meet for a. week only in February, with the dea of at once testing the. strength of parties,: ! ind then will adjourn till June. A very much stronger feeling exists that the new members will object to a dissolution. ,

It is reported on the best authority i(says the" cc Dominion"V that Captain A.-C.-C- Stevens, of the N.Z. Staff Corps, has been appointed Command- ' ant of the Junior Cadets, vice Major T.W. : . -McDonald, who has gone to England for twelve months' training — with the Imperial Forces. On enquiry at the Prime Minister's office, however, the "Dominion" was informed that Captain Stevens had been appointed temporarily to carry out the duties." during Major McDonald's absence.

The agreement with the manage-ment-of the State coal mine under which the Runanga miners havo been working has expired, and a new. agree irient and conditions were.";- necessaryHence; the executive of the Union and Mr Bishop have been in • conference over tlie matter.' It Sis' understood that tKe details have been agreed upon by the -manager and the executive. But be.fore the arrangements. can come into f.brco Mr .Bishop will require to get his action confirmed by the Ministry. ; while that of the executive njiis.t :meet with the approval of the Miner*? Union. The agreement -is for two 'years, no industrial drsturban*;c being possible duririg that period; .

AY a result of the great shipping . strike at Home some of Wm. Holder and Sons' shipment of Christmas crockery and glassware did not ar- '- rive until last week. Included in the delayed portion was a large cask of Shelly ware, faous all over England for exquisite design and Tiighest qual-, „ ity. i The firm have a very find wina dow aisplay at their estabhshment in which-this^ wave is shown, prominent- "•■'.■ ]yr'The,-.Sheliey goods comprise tea V sets, ferrii pots, in .the very latest design, vases, in bea'utif ill colour and designs 'depicting farm' scenes in Surrey ...Wm. Holder an.di Sons have also a $pleridid of glassware., such .as salad bowls, jam and sweet •dishes.; arid the latest in glass flower stands' which are a decided novclfty^ The Busy -Grocers stock the largest and best assortment of crockery, ware on the (West. Coast. A visit to; their" shop ,is always a treat, especial) v ; - to the ladies. \ The staff take a dcliglit in showing visitors the goods.

The G.I.C advertfee. some of- their prices jin this' 1 issue/ whiclr should be noted by thpse.' requiring ' chaff , oats, pollard; bran, barley meal, partridi^e pe^s 1 horse 'lieans;- .flour, : wheat,- j'ani: jars, -jelly chrystalls etc. They state that thoiir institution has come to stay arid every day sees an: mcreasin^ trade The solicit" a .^rial for the price' is right,. the weight correct and the quality the best. ' Note the advertisement oyer the leader. . -