The Hawera Star. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1925. THE MINING SETTLEMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 3 August 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1925. THE MINING SETTLEMENT.

Delivered eiery evening by 5 o'clock 'u Hawern, Manaia Norinanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatnki. Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyvi’.ie, Patea, Waverley. Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Meremere, Frasar Road, an Arm rata.

Tshe commen.te of the leading London newspapers, which we print to-day, are sufficient to indicate the many conflicting views taken of the settlement that has been effected. in the British coal dispute. lb has :been agreed that, the State sha'll snlbsidi.se the mining industry to the extent of from ten to twelve million pounds so that the men’s wages, for the next nine months, may be kept at the 1924 le\jel. That is v.-lvat the superlatively conservative Morning Host calls a .sacrifice of principle, the Labour Daily lleraJd “the biggest victory the Labour movement has ever won,’’ the .sensationall Daily Mad. “a victory lor violence,’’ and the calm, unb list led Times “a victory l’or common sense.’ ’ W-liile there is soineitlimg of truth in all four views, The Times probably comes nearest, to the mark Heavy additional load on the country thougn it may prove, the payment of ten million .pounds is preferabLe to the disaster of a prolonged coal strike. Also, knowing Mr. Baldwin for a practical and level-headed employer of labour, we nnay rest assured tha.b be 'has been convinced of the justice of the miners’ claim for .a continuance of t lie present wage schedule. The realty serious aspect is nob touched upon in any. of the comments which have been cabled. It has been proved, apparently, that the British coal industry cannot pay its own way and, to keep it going, the Government has had to step in with this prop. An industry which, once firmly established, cannot make its own way, is superfluous in the economic system of the world. Therefore, unless the present weakness be only a passing phase, the greatness of British coal-mining has gone for all time. The full significance of tilts will be realised on consideration of the extent to which the position of the British iron, steel and allied industries has been dependent on the coal mines. Because British brains were behind the industrial Revolution, the country stole a march on the world .a hundred and fifty years ago. The lead that English manufacturers gained then made Britain the .strongest and the wealthiest nation on earth To-day that lead has been almost overhauled, and, unless some new force arises to change the currents of trade, the golden ago of British industry is fast ebbing to its close. Cheaper costs of production in the coal mines of the Continent, and more efficient organisation of labour in those of America, have contributed to the decline in Great Britain, but principally responsible is the increasing use of new forms of energy. In the onward march of discovery, coal is trodden down as wood and charcoal have been ; and to oil and electricity, the world looks for its motive power. The readjustments which come naturally after .snob crises will restore the lost balance and, in .all probability, put Biit.ish coalmining on its feet once more. But the re-established industry must, inevitably be reduced in sdy.e and in scope. There is no sense in mining more cohf than the work! will use. Jt is because of the present-.liy attempt to do so that the British Govern men! ’feiais had to come to the rescue of the industry.