POSITION MUST BE FACED.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15214, 30 October 1919, Page 4

POSITION MUST BE FACED.

PREMIER ON COAL CRISIS,

NO CONTROL BY MINORITY

By Telegraph—From pur Parliamentary Correspondent.

Wellington, Oct. 29.

The gravity of the situation consequent on the development of the coal, crisis threatening an extension of the' trouble to waterfront and transport workers vyas voiced in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Mr Ell raised the question by asking the Prime Minister just how matters stood, and whether he intended doing anything towardß trying to effect a settlement. "I- would also likto to know," said Mr Ell, "whether the'coalminers are underpaid or not. ; If they are. we ought to know ifc. Are there such conditions existing that it is our duty to remedy them ?" . Mr Massey agreed that if the miners . were underpaid it was Parliament's duty to see that they were properly paid. He was quite willing for submit that side of 'the question to any impartial tribunitl', whether the Arbitration Court, the SupremeX3ourt,.or any other set of meni ,'l'Ae: present position was extremely unsatisfactory;, .Leading indusiiries were now being kept going with the utmost difficulty. Large quantities of coal had been imported in ships which should have been used for,other freights. Unfortunately this trouble had occurred at a time when he was so fully occupied with the business of Parliament and <v© affairs of the country that he was quit© unable to give it the attention it deserved. "1 don't know whetlier 1 could do any good oven if I had the time to devote to it," added Mr Alassey-,' who proceed to read a letter which he sent last Saturday to the secretary of the Miners' Federation .respecting the lateat development. In that letter the Premier desired to know definitely whether the miners, intended to accept the employers' last offer, or whether as an alternative, they would file a dispute in the Arbitration. Court. The owners' last offer included willingness to pay increased wages forthwith. The Premier's letter ended: "In justice to the citizens of the Dominion, I would ask that a more sensible and more reasonable attitude be adopted, and the difficulties brought to an end."

The Prime Minister explained, in answer to an inquiry from the Labour benches, that he Had also sent a communication to the employers.

Mi* Holland: Couched in similar terms ? .

Mr Massey: The position is different from the point of view of the employers.

Mr Holland: You assume that tho miners are wrong arid the employers right?.

Mr Massey: My opinion is that the mind's are wrong. "I say again," added Mr Massey, "this thing has'to be faced. It simply cannot go on." Mr Holland: You arc trying to precipitate a strike. Mr Parr: The public is fed up with it.

Mr Massey went on to declare that, even if it cost a good deal of money, the country would have to face the question of carrying on industry properly and securing a supply of coal for the people. Nobody was more anxious than ..limself to bring about a satisfactory settlement, but the outlook was not by any means good. "We may be involved in serious trouble before long," continued the Premier, "and if it does come we wiIJL have to deal with it. We have to assert the rights of the people to govern Ne\v Zealand in their own way, anu not be governed by a minority." Mr Holland: In the employers' way. Mr Massey: As soon as 1 get a httlo time, perhaps to-morrow, 1 will inquire into it*on my own account and make up my mind what is tho right thing lo do* and make a statement to tho m>ii.--e,

SUGGESTED COMPULSORY CONFERENCE.

J Mr Holland advocated the calling of a compulsory conference of the parties to-t-he dispute, and, failing an' agiefinie^, that the Government put into operation the Industries Committee's recunwivudations regarding the coalnunos. «isu>, ' lie believed, was the only solution ot the trouble. , r r ... Mr Massey: lam not prepared to -ay that the Industries Committee -s pnaposal is a solution. I know it ™*9Vr posed by the men in England, I'K'l [many mineowners would have been glad I to accent it."