“UNHOLY ALLIANCE.”

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 December 1924, Page 16

“UNHOLY ALLIANCE.”

MINERS AND MINE OWNERS

DOMINION COAL ON RAILWAYS

Commenting on the effort which is being made to induce the Government to burn New Zealand coal on the railways, the “N.Z. Locomotive Engineers’ Journal” says—- “ The pressure that is being brought to bear upon the Railway Department by the mine owners and the coal min--31 s of New Zealand should be resented bv every locomotive ’man. The concerted action of these parties constitutes one of the most unholy alliances we have so rar seen in this country, and shows to what length interested parties will go to nieet their own ends. As far as the miners are concerned, unless some ulterior motive is behind their action, it matters little to them whether they work in Australiavor New Zealand and as the most of them have come from outside of New Zealand it will readily be seen that our statement is made in good faith. The mine owners profess to have the good of New Zealand at heart, and bewail the fact that so much money is being sent to Australia each year for coal. They prefer, of course, to have the money circulated in New Zealand, and the profits sent back to Australia /y themselves for investment at a higher rate than they can obtain in New Zealand.

Me, as an association, have protesed vigorously against the use of lignite and brown coals, and also against the use of other New Zealand coals in the tunnels, and have been fairly successful m inducing the. manager to see the hardship caused to the locomotive men bv continuing their use.

Now pressure is being brought to hear by the unholy alliance to force the coal on to the Railway Department irrespective of the fact that 61.41 per cenu. of the imported coal is. imported by private dealers.

Apart from the stand taken bv the men who use the coal, the Department considers that Australian coal is much better for the tubes, fireboxes, etc. of engines and reduces the train delays so mrch complained of by the travelling pubhe. Since the Department has imported the most of its coal for use on. locomotives, leaky tubes and train dey l ' s minimised, consequently anart from the, cost of the coals, this i s a large saving m labour and wear ond tear of material. Locomotive men have .also oeen saved considerable worrv, and lenort-wntmg by Die use of Australian y •>] as wed as lightening the work of tlie firemen on modern engines “If the nartie, interest at M m forcing the railway to the New Zealand coal cv C lusivelv, then the ZT° fe- men 'I 11 haVe * consider th-n position, and perhaps a. peculiar situation may result.” 1