COAL MINING INDUSTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17254, 2 September 1919, Page 9

COAL MINING INDUSTRY

NATIONALISATION ISSUE. VIEWS OF THE MINEOWNERS.

DISADVANTAGES OF SYSTEM.

Opinions for and against the principle of the rationalisation of coal mines, as recommended by the Parliamentary Industries Committee, were obtained yesterday. The disadvantages of nationalisation were, discussed by the Hon., E. W. Alison, M.L.C., chairman of directors of tho Taupiri Coal Mines, Limited, and a member of the executive of the .New Zealand Coalmine o~*sra' Association. He said the owners opposed nationalisation from the point of view of both themselves and the public lor t.he following reasons :-r-lt would do away with private enterprise. Under State control coal measures were not likely to be exploited and to;:.I areas developed ■nith tfte 6aino degree of activity and persistence, ine liiMuiy ot coal mining in th« Auckland provincial district showed conclusively that coai mining had on the whole been anything but a profitable ventare. Since the nrtt mine was opened i& cuainaiuos had been founded, ana of that number only rive now remained. Practically the whole capital invested in the remaining 27 had been lost, in regard to the actual management of the mines, new and improved method* of working and the latest inventions and improvements in machinery would not be so readily adopted under Government regulations as in private enterprises, nor would there be the same stimulus to economy and reduction of excessive staffs.

Under State control, there would not | be that competition which was so essential in the interests of the State. The effect of competition had not only been the introduction of men and the improvement of old methods and machinery, but had also been a most important factor in regulating and controlling prices in favour of the consumer. Mr. Alison said that in his opinion the nationalisation of the existing coal mines would not overcome, but increase, industrial unrest. As an illustration he quoted the experience of the State coal mines in New Zealand during the last five years, as revealed in the report of the Board of Trade. The report showed that in the period from April 1, 1913, to September, 1918, the time lost in both State mines through strikes was 146 days ; or about 30 days a year. The statement that State ownership would not stop strikes was borne oat by the actual experiences at the State mines and by the experience of the Victorian coal mines and tne New South Waleji railways and tramways. There was nhe further serious objection that under State ownership the influence of party politicians would predominate, leading to results which would be prejudicial to the welfare of the Dominion.

Another serious effect of Stat* ownership, said Mr. Alii on, would be thai the State would lose a large amount of revenue from the taxes imposed, not only on the properties, but also on the earnings of companies, and also the mineral right duties, the royalties paid by companies for mining on Crown lands.

SUPPORT FOB STATE CONTROL.

CONDITIONS OF MINERS.

Support is given to the proposal for the nationalisation of coal mines by Mr. J. Buddie, chairman of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union. Ho said yesterday that as a result of close observation of the circumstances of the coal industry for some time, both in New Zealand and j in the Old Country, be felt that this wast an undertaking that, more than any other, justified State control. "By no other means that I can see," Mr. Boddie continued, "are we likely to '-Haiti the necessary amelioration of the conditions of the miner*. The surroundings of the miners that I have any knowledge of are far fn-ra ideal. Their occupation underground is anything but congenial and they ha\c a right "to expect that when \ they are out of the mines the living conditions of their families and themselves should be better than they are at present. The conditions in this Dominion certainly art better than they are in the Old Country, but even here there is much room for improvement. The coal industry is one that is so closely related to all other industries and the "old methods have proved to unsatisfactory that I would favour giving State control a trial. At present all that we seem to be getting are increases in price and decreases in output without any hope of a satisfactory solution of the problem unless there is a substantial change of conditions."