GREAT COAL STRIKE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15638, 4 October 1921, Page 6

GREAT COAL STRIKE.

MISTAKES ADMITTED LONDON, August 18.—Herbert Smith, acting president of the Miners' Federation,' said some frank thing's at the annual meeting of the federation at Llandudno, concerning the blunders made in the recent coal strike. Owing to the economic position of the cotil trade during the war, he said, "the sense ot the power and importance developed in the minds of worumen, which had not been altogether healthy, gave many men an exaggerated opinion of their power." Alluding to the Government's sudden decontrol of the mining industry, Mr. Smith said this action made it virtually impossible to proceed with the negotiations when under way for an equitable distribution of wages and profits. The Government for,this act, it for no other, said Mr. Smith, should cease to bold office.

"The federation leaders, however," continued Mr. Smith, "lacked vision and enterprise in their subsequent, action. It was a wrong policy- for the district not to have concentrated on the wage question, upon which they had public support. It was a wrong decision to fight the pool issue. The withdrawal of 'safety men' from the mines waa another mistake, and the consequences are now seen in the break-down .of many mines."- . .

Alluding to aspersions upon the federation officials, Mr. Smith said they were too loyal to the so-called majority 'rule; too loyal tq their colleagues while swallowing their convictions and better judgment Decause they were out-voted by the usual narrow majority vote.