COAL-MINERS’ DISPUTE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 12

COAL-MINERS’ DISPUTE

Sir, —If my memory fails me not I have read that serious views and measures would be taken of any body of workers who ceased work during the war period. It was. I think, one of Mr Semple’s characteristic utterances. So far, I have failed to read of any firm action by the Minister of Labour (Mr Webb) in connection with the present stoppage of work on the West Coast owing to a dispute over the size of trucks, used in a particular mine. It would be very interesting to see what action would be taken by the Government if, say the shearers or the waterside workers were to cease work at the present time as the miners do whenever they like. Perhaps the stem warning given by the Government to the workers at large to behave during the war period has been conveniently forgotten as far as the West Coast is concerned, and the old cry of preference for unionists has been changed to preference for coal-miners. It certainly looks like this to me. Instead of a lot of figures from Mr Nash over the air how about an address to the coal-miners by Mr Webb? I am sure there must be radio sets over on the Coast and I do think a talk by him on the present trouble would be welcomed by many.—l am, etc., WONDERING WHY. Timaru, November 18.