THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1922 THE INTERREGNUM IN IRELAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18540, 28 April 1922, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1922 THE INTERREGNUM IN IRELAND.

COAL PRODUCTION,

While the Dublin correspondent of the Westminster Gazette is responsible for the report that an agreement has been reached between the military leaders of the Republican and Free State sections of the Irish army for a cessation of hostilities, so that the people will be left free to pronounce upon the treaty, wo are informed to-day that the agreement arrived at in London a few weeks ago between Sir James Craig and Mr Michael Collins, respectively representing the Government of Northern Ireland and the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State, has fallen through. Agreements affecting Ireland seem to be of short currency. For this reason we cannot he very sanguine about the duration of the agreement which is said to have been arrived at by the military leaders of the two sections of the Irish army. Indeed, the most recent evidence discounts seriously the report as to the adoption of any such agreement. Civil war and terrorism in Southern Ireland threaten ruin to the prospects of peace as well as to the expression of the will of the people. If Mr O’Connor is really prepared to keep his Republican forces in hand the leaders upon each side should be able to concentrate upon the preparation of their electoral party machinery for the appeal to the Irish electors. Considerable surprise was created when in the last week of February the rival parties in the Sinn Fein Convention came to an agreement providing that no general election should take place until the lapse of three months, and that when it did take place not only the terms of the Treaty, but also the constitution of the Free State “in its final form,” should be submitted to the electorate for final approval or rejection. It had been assumed in England, and by the great majority of people in Ireland, that the Irish Provisional Government would, with or without the consent of a majority in the Convention, fix an early date for the holding of a general election in Southern Ireland, and that the task of framing a constitution for the Irish Free State, within the terms of the treaty, would be entrusted to the Parliament so elected. It was given out that the Provisional Government was moved to defer to the strong demand from the other side that the Irish people should have the Constitution as well as the Treaty before them, when giving their votes, by the promise of its opponents that in these circumstances the election would he facilitated, and that the Provisional Government would not be hampered either by Dail Eireann or by the supporters of Mr do Valera in the interval. It is expected that the electors will be called upon early in June to decide by their voles between the Free State and a republic. In the meantime a Technical Committee appointed by the Provisional Government has been at work in Ireland upon the Constitution. This will bq framed and submitted to the Irish people by and with the authority of the Provisional Government, and not by and with the authority of Dail , Eireanri. The Provisional Government recognises that it must take steps to satisfy itself that the constitution so framed is of such a character that the British Government can accept it as fulfilling the Treaty. There has unfortunately been little enough encouragement in recent events in Southern Ireland for the hope expressed that the arrangement between the rival parties would greatly reduce the prospects of intimidation in relation to the elections. Therefore the agreement which has ‘ been said to have been reached for a cessation of military hostilities would represent quite a desirable development. If it hag really materialised it should be more than a coincidence that it has followed hard upon the protest of the Irish Labour Party against the continuance of military activity. Unfortunately the history of such activity is not conducive to much' confidence respecting its discontinuance. The shooting j of Brigadier-general Adamson of the Athlone Brigade has been a sinister occurrence in kuch an hour. The attempts that have been made against the life of Mr Michael Collins are not the sort of episode to usher in a genuine truce. While the gun-men are active in Ireland strife and intimidation must still prevail. There is little doubt that when the treaty was signed it was welcomed by the great majority of the people of Southern Ireland ag a most acceptable instrument of settlement. In the weeks and months that have elapsed since then no effort has been spared by the irreconcilables to give predominance to a different sentiment. But if the Irish electors have any capacity for. deliberately pondering the issues it is almost impossible to conceive that a majority of them will be led to ignore the advantages resident in the treaty or the calamitous results that would attend its rejection by their vote. In the mean r time Irish responsibility, newly established, is being subjected to a test from .which there is hope that it will emerge with credit, despite the efforts of the wreckers. As Mr Churchill observed in a recent speech: “The burden has come down upon them, and they have to bear it or admit their incapacity to hear it. The failure of our Irish policy would not be the failure of Britain: it would he the failure of Ireland: and it :s that sense which is forcing Irishmen to address themselves with sobriety, and responsibility, and gravity, as well as with resolution, to the difficult questions of their country’s government, and to win for their country the honourable place in the world and in the circle of the British Commonwealth to which Irish genius and Irish courage entitle it.”

The figures which the Hon. G. J. Anderson, Minister of Mines, supplied to. us a few days ago contain food for reflection. A further definite decline in the output of coal is registered. This, it is to be observed, coincides with an increase in the number of persons employed. The importance of a supply of cheap coal was exemplified a few days ago in New South Wales when it was intimated that the Newcastle Iron Works were about to be closed down, the primary reason being that the cost of coal prevented the company from competing with English iron and steel manufacturers. The price of coal in the dominion still constitutes a serious tax on industry. The high cost arises in part from the necessity which has existed of importing large quantities of coal from abroad. The Government has been subjected to criticism for its policy of importing coal, but the continuing shortage of locally-hewn coal has made it difficult to arrive at any other solution of the problem associated with a deficiency of supplies. The diminishing output certainly raises grave issues. Some interesting comparisons may be made to illustrate the shrinkage. In 1907, 8910 workers produced over 1,830,000 tons of coal and in the following year 3894 workers accounted for over 1,860,000 tons. A comparison of the returns for the past five years gives the following results: Persons Year. Output. employed. 1917 „. _ 2,068,419 3,983 U>lß 2,034,250 .3,994 1919 ... _. 1,347,848 3,944 1920 „. ... 1,843,705 4,078 1921 ... „. 1,803,431 4,506 The past year, therefore, shows a decline of 40,224 tons as compared with 1921, while the number of persons employed shows an increase of 428, This fact of itself negatives the immediate possibility of an additional reduction of any substantial amount in the selling price 'of coal. The diminution in the output has been fairly general over the South Island. The southern districts (Canterbury, Otago, and Southland) show a decrease of 55,093 tons, while the total output of the West Coast fell by 16,346 tons. The North Island, on the other hand, shows an increased output of 31,115 tons. Additional particulars may, of course, show that the number of working hours have not approximated those of 1920, but it is impossible to overlook the decline in coal production, which has been going on over a number of years. During recent years the importation of coal from abroad has assumed large proportions, while the quantity exported is rapidly diminishing. In 1916-17 the value of coal exported was £249,106, but in 1920-21 the value was only £94,350. If "the increase in the price is taken into consideration the fall in exports has been very marked. The imports of coal, on the other hand, have increased considerably. In 1916 the value of imported coal was £189,526 and in 1920 it reached a total of £514,249. Last year will have shown an increase on these latter figures, and the consequent loss to the dominion must be considerable. New Zealand is still rich in coal deposits and it should be possible to increase the local production and correspondingly reduce the > importations. At present, clearly, the mining industry cannot be said to be in a satisfactory condition. It would be interesting to learn what steps, if any, have been taken to give effect to the recommendations contained in the comprehensive report on the coal industry which was published almost two years ago. That report contains the most complete analysis 'of the position and prospects of the coal industry, and if beneficial results are to accrue from the inquiry it is time that some evidence of it became apparent. Wo are informed that the Kartangata Coal Company has announced to coal merchants that the company was making a reduction of 10s per ton on its coal, this reduction to come into force on May X. The concession will be passed on to the consumer by the city and suburban coal merchants on the date stated. The Superintendent of Mails advises that mails which left Auckland on March 21, per R.M.S. Makura, via Vancouver, arrived in London on April 24. An Auckland Press Association .message says that it was announced in the City Police Court yesterday that the hearing of the charge against Bishop Liston would proceed before Mr J. W. Poyntdn, S.M., on Monday next. A Wellington Press Association telegram says that in the course of his address to the Arbitration Court yesterday, Mr J. M‘Combs, M.P., urged that a cost of living inquiry bo set up to ascertain the basic wage. The President of the Court said that in 1912 family budgets were collected, but this information was out of date. In 1919 the Government Statistician sent out 20,000 budget books, but only 106 were returned, and many wore not satisfactory. If the Government repeated the experiment he hoped the workers would be urged to comply as closely as possible with the request. Mr M'Combs said: “We had not established a base yet, and the inquiry I have suggested would be necessary for the purpose.” Owing to the completion of the large Manuherikia scheme there will be something of a lull in connection with irrigation works in Central Otago during the winter months. But the operations of the Public Works Department have not ceased, and investigations ore continually being made with a view to undertaking the extensive operations which will be necessary in future to bring the Central to a greater state of productivity. At Ida Valley the races are being extended by a number of men from Chatto Creek, and it is anticipated that next season there will be double the /area under irrigation which there is at the present time. It may be mentioned as a significant feature of the appreciation which the benefits of irrigation inspire in the hearts of settlers that they invariably show the greatest promptitude in the settlement of their accounts for the supply of the season’s water, and this in spit© of the presen; financial stringency. Representations were recently made to the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Marine) for an extension of the salmon fishing season in South Canterbury, but the application has been refused, as the fish are now spawning. Mr Anderson feels that in view of the desirability of more firmly establishing these fish all sportsmen concerned will recognise the necessity for this decision, which will result in better fishing during future seasons. Colonel A. E. Stewart, C.M.G., D. 5.0., who latterly commanded the Rifle Brigade in France, was the lecturer at the Officers’ Club on Wednesday evening. His subject was “The 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, Raid on the Anglo 10th June, 1916.” and in an hour’s talk the Colonel conveyed to his audience a graphic description of that event, and demonstrated the extreme care and attention to the very smallest detail with which preparation was made for attack of this nature. With the aid of aerial photographs and information gained by scouts an exact replica of the section to bo attacked was constructed, and the selected 'officers and men were thus trained to their allotted tasks for some days before the event. There was an excellent attendance of members, and nt the conclusion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the lecturer. The next meeting of the club will be devoted to an address by Lieutenant Umbers, of the Flying Corps,