The Sun 42 Wyndham Street. Auckland. N.Z. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1927. STATE COLLIERIES PAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 139, 2 September 1927, Page 8

The Sun 42 Wyndham Street. Auckland. N.Z. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1927. STATE COLLIERIES PAY

IN the medley of criticism and curious party combinations which * mars the progress of Parliament these days, it must have been a soothing delight to the Government to hear members of the Labour Opposition praise the Administration for its management of the State coal mines and the satisfactory results therefrom, despite several disabilities. It was emphasised by the Leader of the Opposition, who holds no delusions about the Reform regime, that the output of coal had increased last financial year by over fifty thousand tons, and that the net profit exceeded £22,000. There was probably more embarrassment for those who bestowed praise than for those who received it. As a rule there is but little joy in lauding an old enemy. Still, the prosaic record of operations showed quite clearly that criticism could not fairly be hostile. It may be observed, however, that the praise did not touch a novel feature of the business—the fact that an Administration of Conservatives can succeed to an appreciable extent with a socialistic industrial experiment when out-and-out Socialist Governments, as in Australia, often lamentably fail. Of course, it was natural that that phase of the subject should have been avoided as dangerous ground. While it is a pleasant spectacle to see rival politicians pat each other on the back and exchange congratulations, the public will be much more interested in the reasons for the price of coal being so high and startling in economic effect, as some fuel has been dangerous in explosive tendency. It is true that the State mines have played an important part in keeping prices down to a more reasonable limit than undoubtedly would have been the case had such collieries not been in existence, but it cannot even be pretended that the rates are anything reasonable to coal consumers. This oppressive feature of the New Zealand coal trade was noted promptly by Mr. Holland who, by reason of his intimate knowledge of the coal-mining industry, was able to discuss intelligently the exasperating weakness of the system. The Leader of the Opposition sought information as to the average cost of bringing each ton of coal to the surface, and urged that the figures should be published in the departmental report. He mentioned that in 1918 such information was published frankly. One might well ask why the average cost of raising coal throughout the Dominion’s collieries is now withheld from the public. Nine years ago the cost was fifteen shillings a ton. Even if it has been increased in recent years the difference between the productive value and the selling price is so g-reat as to demand an explanation. It certainly is great enough to be provocative of bad temper among the consumers. It is to be regretted that several of the State coal distributing depots have experienced heavy losses. The Wellington depot last year lost over £6,000 and that in Dunedin lost rather more than £4,000. The Christchurch depot made a net profit of over £7,300. If one depot can earn substantial profit, why not them all? Obviously, there must be something lacking either in the management or the method of distribution.

In view of the enthusiasm shown by Mr. Parry for co-opera-tive coal mining, it was right that Mr. D. Jones, the shrewd member for Ellesmere, should have been so quick in tersely urging- Labour to support a wide extension of a system that would not only benefit producer and consumer, but would eliminate the spirit of distrust and enmity. Meanwhile, we may all congratulate the Minister of Mines on having won a bouquet for the Government.

THAT FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA

THOUGH the New Zealand Government has deserved reproach for the niggardly support it has given aviation in this country, private enterprise, even in the general apathy created by lack of official action, has at least done something in the way of pioneer work, and for this it will not be denied due credit. Now comes the news that two great aviators, Sir Alan Cobham and Captain Graham White, acting on behalf of a New Zealand syndicate, are assisting in the organisation of a permanent air service for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. The service, it is announced, will start next year. This should be yet another incentive to New Zealanders to become more actively interested in aviation. Talk of the proposed flight to Australia has died away, and unless those who had the business of preparation in hand are working none the less effectively if silently, the prospect of the Tasman being crossed from this side appears to be remote. On the other hand, it is definitely announced that an Australian airman is seriously preparing for a flight from Tasmania to New Zealand, another xn-oposes the trip from Brisbane, via Sydney, and a third is preparing to fly from Melbourne to the Dominion. Viewed against flights across the vast space of the Atlantic, the air voyage over the Tasman does not appear to be formidable enough to justify all the portentious preparation that is deemed by-some to be necessary. Sir Alan Cobham says that “any ordinary machine should negotiate such a short journey.” Apparently it does not such “a short journey” to local airmen as it does to the man who flew from England to the Cape, and from England to Australia and back. Or is it possible that New Zealand does not xoossess even “an ordinary machine?”

CLEANING THE SLATE OF HATE

IN addition to removing the disabilities imimsed by war-necessity on alien enemy teachers and enemy immigrants, and in the rights of women married to enemy aliens to obtain divorce, the Government (as announced last night by the Attorney-General) has decided to “clean the slate completely.” The final sponging is the removal of the disabilities imposed on military defaulters in 1918. These defaulters were deprived of civil rights for a period of ten years, but, as there is a general election next year, the imposition of the penalty for the full period would mean their disfranchisement for a total period approximating 13 years. Parliament, therefore, has lifted the penalty by passing the War Disabilities Removal Bill. Now that the nations of Euroxie have almost ceased to lick their wounds, it is well that the hatreds of war should be finally obliterated in this far-off country, where internal peace is absolutely essential to }irogress. The foreigners are back to their old status, and the defaulters are at last forgiven. Let both remember the clemency of the State and work without further resentment or default for the good of the country which supports them.