END OF A LONG STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19124, 16 September 1925, Page 14

END OF A LONG STRIKE.

CAPE BRETON COALMINES.;

SIX MONTHS IDLENESS. 1 TERMS EQUIVALENT TO DEFEAT. [from our own correspondent.] TORONTO Auu. 15. Nova Scotia coalminers, after nearly six months idleness, this week returned to work and the pit horses, probably the only workers to benefit from the prolonged strike, were brought back from green pastures to tho black caverns under tho sea. Soldiery, comprising nearly half of the regular army of Canada, called to suppress disorder and Bolshevism, have returned to barracks. , It is not quite an unconditional surrender the strikers made. Their face is saved by "terms" submitted by the Provincial Government and an ensuing "agreement" with their employer, tho British Empire Steel and Coal Corporation. But outspoken ones will admit that what they are tasting now is defeat, with only ho thinnest of sugar coatings to conceal the bitterness within. A Government Inquiry. Tho men accept a reduction in wages of from 6 to 8 per cent and a plebiscite on the "check off" system under which union dues are collected from pay envelopes. On the other hand they have gained a Government inquiry into the coal industry, to be concluded within six months, tho period during which tho present contract is to run. The company asked for a 10 per cent, reduction m wages, and the difference between this and 6 to 8 per cent, actually put into effect may be more than balanced by a rebate of 20 per cent, of the former provincial royalties on coal mined which the Government has agreed to make as part of the settlement. Consequently tho company achieves practically its full purpose. Nevertheless the settlement of tho strike is regarded as adding greatly to the prestige of tho new Conservative Government. It is only three weeks since Mr. Rhodes took ofiico and tho speedy resumption of work in tho leading industry of the Province, following his initiative in submittings terms of settlement to the conflicting parties, is naturally regarded as a smart piece of work. Miners Vote Conservative. It lias, however, been common knowledge for months that the strike was on its last legs. The wonder is that it lasted so long. Destitution was rampant even when the strike began. Practically no assistance came from the headquarters of the United Mino Workers.in tho United States. The strikers, after a brave effort to keep out of the hands of the Reds, finally accepted a gift of 5000 dollars from Moscow and held a Communist parade under red'streamers, after which there was a notable slackening off in relief contributions from tho rest of Canada. Even at the end, nearly 4000 miners voted against accepting the terms of settlement and many thousands refrained from voting at ailProbably politics delayed the final collapse until after the Rhodes Government got into the saddle. The former Armstrong Government became greatly distrusted by the miners who thought .it was dominated by the corporation; hence they voted almost as a unit to turn it out—not lor Labour, candidates, but for supporters of the new Conservative Government which is now to reward them by holding an inquiry. . . , , Since the strike began there has been a great exodus from the, mining area. At one. period it was said that the only persons making a living in the various communities were the photographers who were. doing a rushing t business Jn. making pictures for passports, to the United States.American Competition. It will be interesting to see what effect tho strike settlement, with is favourable terms' to the corporation' will have in enabling the industry to compete with the United States coal mines, which in recent years have ousted it froni markets, even in Canada, that formerly were profitable. The most obvious disadvantage of tho Cape Breton mines is that they are submarine, a fact which imposes expense on the company and inconvenience (as well as lower wages) on the workers,, Part, of what submarine mining means may ;, be; indicated by the fact that to get- to bis work at 7 a.m. a miner may have to get up at 4 a.m. It often takes him more than an hour to get from the pit mouth to the coal face. Why Virginia and other United States coal can be laid down in Canada cheaperthan Nova Scotia is. indicated from the following contrast in conditions:—United States Mines.—Subterranean; thick seams from 6ft, to 7ft.; non-gaseous or , nearly so; easy gradients oi nearly fiat; strong roof; firm, strong coal; absence of ; comparatively light, cover, maximum 450 ft. Cafe Breton Mines.—Submarine: variable thickness of seams, from 4ft, to 7ft.; usually gaseous; gradients inclining from 7 to 17 degrees; weak roof; friable, weak coal; wet mines; cover variable to a maximum of 1400 ft. Whether "Besco" has found the way to overcome these handicaps remains to v be seen.