MR HOLLAND’S STATEMENTS,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18348, 12 September 1921, Page 6

MR HOLLAND’S STATEMENTS,

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir, —In one of your recent issues a correspondent comments on a question of Mr Holland’s—viz., why arc we importing coalf Ho answers the question by ■ a general charge of “go slow,” “laziness,” and “dishonesty” against the miners. He may'ho ignorant of the fact that the “go slow” was not general in its application. It was applied to mines the owners of which would not accede to the just demands of the men. This fact remains, however, that in th© year 1919, when the “go slow” was at its maximum, the output per miner was nine tons per head more than before. Your correspondent has made no attempt to meet the charge Mr Holland directs rgainst the coal owners of not providing .= decent accommodation for their workers, thereby causing a fairly high percentage of men to desert the mines altogether for some other work on the surface. Your correspondent does not attempt to explain to the genera* public the difference between what is paid in our cities for a ton of West Coast coal and the total labour cost at the pitmouth—namely, 15s per ton. He does not notioo that 25 per cent, of the price the public pays for the same igoes into the coffers of the shipping monopoly. All these aspects are conveniently ignored. I have to ask yofl, Mr Editor, to correct an error in your report of Mr Holland’s lecture on “The Coal Problem.” He is made to say. that he is against “nationalisation.” What he said was that he knew nationalisation was not Socialism, but it led that way. Mr Holland,, like all of the Labour Party, is pledged to nationalisation.—l am, etc., John Gilchrist, Hon. Sec. O.L.R.C.