A MERE SCRAP OF PAPER.

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 878, 4 May 1917, Page 8

A MERE SCRAP OF PAPER.

New Zealand Miners and German Precedents, ■. V-".- V.;--. . \- QHAIL we never have finality in connection with the - grievances, real or alleged, of the coal miners? No sooner is* one dispute (if one-sided cantankerousness can be called a dispute) patched iip or ended than some new tom-fool disturbance of this industrial atmosphere occurs. r It would really seem as if tlie-eoal-miners, or the mischievous foinenters of trouble by whom thev are foolish enough to be led, had made up their- minds to adopt German ( methods and to tear tip duly-signed agreements with , the same cynical disregard for their plighted —word .and . honour as was displayed by BethmannHollweg when he endeavoured to excuse Germany's callous violation "of Belgian neutrality, by declaring that an international agreement was a "mere scrap

of paper." There has been, far too much of this "Heads I .win. and: tails you lose" business about the industrial agreements of the last few years, and it is high time it came to .an end.

"YVe warmly applaud the 'attitude taken up by the Acting-Premier with regard to the senseless and unpatriotic conduct of the, Runanga men in resuming strike conditions because the Railway Department would not'give them , preferential treatment with regard to weekly tickets. All other workers in the Dominion have - quietly. • accepted tlie altered conditions, but these petted and . pampered , State/ servants at . Eimanga must fain demand : exemption from a general rale. Sir James Allen told them point blank that "no con* 1 cessions • could be made,'' ' and: he did the right thing; The plain, truth of the - matter is that -these State.:.- coal-, miners do not know when they are well off. When : the w'ar is over it may ■ very well become a: question most seriously to be considered' by _ Parliament whether the State coal-mines■* should not- be closed. They aro run, we believe, . at- a- loss, • and . although, under, circumstances, ~ it may be necessary to keep them open, it is an open. question whether, after the war, it would not be "better to shut them ; . up: and let ,the public depend /solely upon private enterpriee for their coal ■supply. ' • ; ' . . ... ■ ■ » * «■ , Meanwhile; it' is,^. to .be .hoped that the industrial workers of the Dominion will realise that no> industry can permanently prosper unless those engaged •• therein--return.'a fair .day's work, for a fair-day's pay, and j- above .. all. . foreswear all imitation of the very evil German precedent of regarding an : agreement,. which has been solemnly entered into, as •"a . mere • scrap of 'paper?', ' , ' i . ; v '