The Ensign WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1917. STATE GOAL MINING.

Mataura Ensign, 18 April 1917, Page 4

The Ensign WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1917. STATE GOAL MINING.

When Mr Seddon decided to • commence . coal mining as a State enterprise, he did not anticipate that the mines would furnish a nest for hatching all kinds of Socialistic nostrums, and would, ultimately, commence one of the most unfortunate strikes which has occurred in' the Dominion, His well-meant efforts to cheapen coal to the consumer have had.the effect in practice of putting up the price of that commodity and 'from time to time have caused trouble between the coalminers and their 'employers. The employees in the State mines are exceedingly well treated. . They have better working conditions and' can make better wages than the employees of any of the 1 private companies. Yet they are not satisfied, but have for years been continually agitating and worrying over trifles." The township of Runanga, which was established for the workers in the State mines, has been the hot bed of agitations among the miners of the Dominion, and all kinds of nostrums for the regeneration of mankind on this sublunary sphere have been promulgated from that West Coast township until its very name has become a byword among sensible people. The mainspring of the present unpatriotic strike we have no doubt exists in Runanga. The State mines have re-, salted In a heavy loss financially to the Dominion. They have never been a paying. proposition so far as can. be gathered from,the meagre information which the/ Mines Statement furnishes. Apparently there has been'a, loss in the-vicinity of £IOO,OOO, taken over the whole period of their operations. The taxpayers of the Dominion have had to foot this bill'and all they have received in exchange has been a.band of agitators who have attempted to set tiie workers: throughout the Dominion at - the throats of their employers, without any just cause. The mines should either be closed down altogether and tlms save further loss or the present gang of unpatriotic , socialistic agitators should be sent to the right auont and more sensible, and certainly more loval, men placed in this ideally conducted mine (from an employees point of view,) It would then be wise to give the men the benefit of a superannuation fund, and thus provide them with something of -a character calculated to-keep Socialistic nonsense in the background. ' The .difficulty .in . respect to coal promises to be very severe. This being the case the Government should look around for an evenly obtainable supply. There is a large seam of coal in the Western District of Southland which-eould be mined cneaply and expeditiously. It would be well for the Government to consider this, and take action at once. Even if ship-ping-be delayed, it is necessary that industries ashore be carried on. In is new mine in the Western District -of Southland would . furnish all the coal needed for shore industries in - the South Island at a comparatively low cost. The mine could be with unskilled labor, as it would open out on a surface face. But whatever, may be the coal difficulties 'caused. by these discontented, unionists, the Government should not allow itself to be coerced by a few leaders whose sympathies are apparently more with the nation s enemies than with their own country-*-men at the present crisis, Had they any real grievance their claims ..would Ija" entitled to consideration, but they have none: and have. been forced to trump up an allegation to justify their "o-o filow" and "stop work" policy,