HAD ENOUGH OF IT.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1910, Page 2

HAD ENOUGH OF IT.

Tlie hruspeness and sometimes penetrativeness of the Hon. R. M'Kenzie in his replies toi occasional deputations] fairly brings those who prefer requests! up with a round clined to work the mine, to purchase the freehold and lease the rights to the local people, otherwise the townshipj of Brunnerton would be wiped out. Ministers replied that the question of purchasing the, private rights and leasing to local people were worth considering. The Minister of Mines was more emphatic than Sir Joseph Ward on the subject of- State ownership, ■ of coal mines. He said that if twenty million tons of coal were in sight the Government would not start another coal mine on the Coast, The explanation of the 'determination oi Ministers'inoh to extend the development of socialism in coal mines is to be found in two facts.. The first is that the Government coal mines on the Coast do not pay. That, however, may he immaterial, for the gap can he easily filled up with a memento of the London money lender at 3J per cent and alb'ig discount. Pew experienced people ever expected them to pay. When Mr Seddon plunged into the coal mine •business he was strongly impressed I the idea that the scheme would both the Coast and the Goent a fillip—the Coast would out fli great deal more coal and Government would securo a many more votes. It cannot id that the Coast haa not 1 out more coal, hut it has it a 'leas to the taxpayers. The 1 i 3 that the Government's! poity has been materially impairnd instead- of gaining votes it ctually lost them. That is derable in a manner that cannot o be conclusive. If there is, a n a coal' mine it is almost eer;o be a Government one, and between the worry, of trying to se vaulting socialism and makfutile effort to show. ft profit, 'enture ■ has been one that has brought ' less and discomfiture, vernment that launches into socialism is certain to incur ispleasure of every working in the country, for it cannot all that is demanded without ing the taxpayer, and its reoffends the workers. That has proved by the hostility shown . . e Government by the various labor unions throughout the Dominion, it apparently doe 3 not make any difference respecting the way the Government goes in these tilings, it is all the time engendering] a feeling, of 'hostility to itself. If it refuses a request it raises a feeling of hostility amongst those immediately'interested, and if it grants it the result is the same amongst those who are not immediately interested. Ministers have learnt by this time that Mr Seddon's venture has turned out a had one for the State, and a very bad one for the 'Government, and! that, conclusion was the pre-determining cause of the Hon. R. M'Kenzie's as°sertion that if twenty million tons of coal were in sight on the Coast the Government would not starti another coal mine. As a matter cf fact the Government has had enough of coal mines, «nd so have tlie people.