A MELANCHOLY SITUATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 11 May 1921, Page 5

A MELANCHOLY SITUATION.

TAKING^ADVANTAGE OF BRITAIN'S FOLLIES.

NATION MUST ASSERT ITSELF

(Received May 11, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, May 9. At a luncheon tendered to Mr W. M. 'McPherson, Victorian Treasurer, at the Stationers' Hall, Mr Churchill, in proposing the health of the guest, deal* with the seriousness of the coal position, which, it was clear, could not continue indefinitely. The streets of the great industrial centres were crowded with. work Jess people. It was a melancholy situation. Our rivals and late enemies and even our friends were actively pressing forward to take advantage of Britain's follies. Even the coal necessary to maintain the. life of our great cities was now menaced and made the dbjeet of continuous attack. He was confident that a good outcome •would ibe reached for all parties eventually, but we are at a bad point at the present moment, calling for effort •similar to those when our lives were menaced in 1914. "The community," he said, "is greater than any section, and cannot ibe ruled by any section. The nation must assert itself, but when it has asserted itself, it must show that it does not wish to triumph over any section. We rememiber the part the miners played in the war, and no vindictive triumph should enter into a settlement.