Grey River Argus THURSDAY, August 16, 1934. THE INDUSTRIAL POLICY OF THE STATE.

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1934, Page 4

Grey River Argus THURSDAY, August 16, 1934. THE INDUSTRIAL POLICY OF THE STATE.

Proof that the welfare of not only workers, but the general public, is energetically being advocated by Labour members is given by yesterday’s business in Parliament. Their fight against wage cuts evidently has forced the Coalition to realise the urgency of at least some relief. Civil servants on lower salaries are likely to have some restoration, while there is expected also to be some reduction in the unemployment tax. Another important matter yesterday brought forward by Labour members is that of compensation to workers for death and accident. The Member for Westland has asked that unemployed who are injured shall be better treated in this regard, and the Government at last undertakes to consider it. Mr Parry put up a strong case for his measure to make workers’ compensation generally more adequate, especially in case of death, where dependants are deprived of breadwinners, and need sufficient on which to live no matter how the worker has been employed whose life has been sacrificed in industry. Hon. Mark Fagan’s measure to have miners’ disease treated and compensated as an industrial casualty is one against which there can be no reasonable opposition, for the dread ailment does undoubtedly arise out, and in the course, of the worker’s employment, a fact recognised in the compensation laws of nearly every other country where this disease is the outcome of mining. The Member for Buller, after urging something better than 2Jd per hour or some other dole for relief men in his district on essential public works, had to put the acid on a truly lamentable reply to his advocacy of a policy to revive Ihe coal industry. The Minister of Mines displayed a complete obiquity to the very idea of such a progressive step. He put up a weak excuse both for closing a State coal depot in one city and for the failure of the depot in another city to stock more than a few tons of Liverpool mine coal for household users. It is obvious | that no attempt is made to sell 1 this coal to such consumers, although judicious mixing should ensure quite a good sale. But the Government is blind to the greatest obstacles in the way of the Dominion, and especially the West Coast coal trade. This is the atterly uneconomic charges for transport, alike by rail and sea. No effort is made by the Railway Board to try the effect of cheapening coal freights on the South Island lines. Yet it is the price that keeps coal consumption down. Any cheapening would more than proportionately increase demand. In regard to sea transport Mr Webb made out a most impressive case for his proposal that the State should operate a few colliers to serve ports in the North Island, or in this Island for that matter. The Minister met the proposal with the characteristic lack of enterprise his department has ever shown Where there is question of expanding the State coal enterprise. He denied offhand that such col-

tiers would make any improvement, but for the denial gave no other justification, than to say it was the Government’s opinion. Probably, the Government is in principle averse to the State coal enterprise, and disposed not to compete thereby against private enterprise with any keenness whatever. Mr Webb quoted the high sea feights on West Coast coal, ranging from 15s to 20s per ton, and pointed out that Australian coal is being conveyed to the Dominion at appreciably cheaper rates, enabling it to undersell the Dominion product. Contrasted with the attitude of our Government, was that of the New South Wales administration in granting a coal bonus to facilitate sales along with the cheaper freights. There is no question that the Dominion coal industry has been absolutely neglected and even sacrificed under the policy which the ■ Government has pursued. Every other industry has obtained protection and assistance in some shape or form, whereas nothing has been done to make coal production stable, and the worst effects of this neglect have fa lien upon the worker ■ • in Ihe industry. The State mines have not only shown a profit, but have been far more profitable for the consumers in keeping prices from rising further than they have done. This is a most important consideration. In most places, coal prices remain too high, especially in these times when the unemployed and many on small wages have only too limited means to purchase fuel for their homes. The idea ought •not to be to increase the consumption of imported fuel, either oil or coal, but to have more New Zealand coal used. This object could be achieved by both reducing transport costs and protecting the industry in the same way as every other industry is protected. Mr Webb will doubtless persevere with his advocacy of such a policy, because it is one that must ultimately be carried into effect.