THE STATE COAL MINE.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1930, Page 8

THE STATE COAL MINE.

It is difficult to see what advantage the miners employed in the” State coal mine expect to obtain from their action in stopping work until some alleged grievances have been removed. It is stated that there are two particular matters in regard to which the men are dissatisfied. When they approached the Minister of Mines, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, he reminded the men’s representatives that there were constitutional methods of inquiry into complaints such as those they had laid before him. The extraordinary thing is that the miners agreed to submit one difficulty to the proper tribunal, but decided to stop work unless their point of view in regard to the second were accepted by the department forthwith and the higher rate of pay demanded for particular work granted immediately. It may be that the amount involved is small, and that very few men will be affected by the higher rate if it is granted. That is not so much the point at issue. What is essential is that constituted authority be upheld. The State as employer and the miners have mutually agreed that disputes shall be considered by a committee representative of employer and employees, and the arrangement was made with the specific purpose of preventing stoppage of work or any other interference with output. The miners seem to desire to have all the advantages of this system when it suits them, but to throw it overboard whenever the direct action of stopping work appears to hold out a greater prospect of obtaining any demand they may make. It is to be hoped the Minister will refuse to be browbeaten. If the men’s case is sound there can be no risk in submitting it to the Disputes Committee. If it is not, their action in ignoring the committee can perhaps he understood, but is none the less responsible. There can be no stable peace in any industry unless agreements are honoured by all parties to them.