The Thames Star. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JNUAUARY 7, 1909. THINGS IN GENERAL.

Thames Star, Volume XLV, Issue 10608, 7 January 1909, Page 2

The Thames Star. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, JNUAUARY 7, 1909. THINGS IN GENERAL.

The attitude off the Kaiwgahake aiiiineire in connection with the dispute appear? to be a moat peculiar and anomalous one. It will be remembered that the Thames Union decode*! to submit to. medical examination under protest, while subsequently that vote was upset 'by tlnef addition of the: Karangahiake voting, which was against medical exatmanationi. The Thames Union then gave way oui the question of examination and decided to hold out. The Talisman Coniipsiny decided to waive the conditions amid without waiting to 'ascertain whether their Thames comrade® were being similarly treated the Karadgailiake miners •returned to work. It is- contended that pin* action only should have Ibeen taken and that no individual action should have taken place until the Executive had disoussed the position. iKaranganafee appear*' to have combined.the votes on the question and then acted individually, ;wjhile the Thannee miners are left to face >a! position really brought about by the votes) of otfaenu ##■#.#

The iNW Zealand Parliament huimainely cteaidetT that compeniaatioii ought to be payable- in respect of a disuse .peouroir to a, particular industry," says, the Lyttelton Times, and public opinion, •generally will applaud this endteta.vour to make the position of the workeirs more secure. But the miimeirs are trying to force am impossible application of the law. It would ibie manifestly unjust to compel a inianufacturer to pay compensation, to torn employee for am accident that hapipenled 'before the: employe© entered . bis service, tdid similarly'it would be " unjust to make the mdneowaers liaWe for itihiei payment of oomipensiation to men who are already suffering

from, miners' complaint. Parliament endeavoured to meet this particular difficulty lny permitting the proprief tiova to oontiiact out of their liability in regaird" to workers already suffering! from the djaease, and suich miners would be in precisely the same position as. they, ocoupiei prior to the ■passingi of the oew laiW. The request that all miners should submit to a medical eacamijnation seems to usi fco be perfectly reasonable. The mineowmers themselves do not pay comipeniaation, of course, but pass mi the liability, to the irusurance companies, and the companies are only asking a preoaution d'.ctated by oommonrsense in seeking To discover the precise prevalence of the disease.

•Regarding; the m-employment of men differing: (Bronx miners' complaint the question was puit to several mine maniageirsi whether they would decline to employ men rejected by the doctor but armed with certificatesl of exemption,? "Employ them !" was the general reply, "Of course we will. The fact of the mem suffering from; this oomiplaint is to me a certificate ibhiat the man is on© of considleralble experience and as a miner joist 'OB good as the mam who is not affected. iAis a iniaittetr of fact we pretty well Know tfhe men, who are affected and) the: present:-LiV- -f the doctor's certifiloate would bo no news* to ws. 'No man suffering from miners' complaint should lose his employment provided he" is satisfied to work. They mire precisely in the same position asl they were before, while the m/jifitrS who aire Tree from, disease will bentfit considerablj' under the Act." Tfoie most sensible course for the men to pursue is to return to work and if any anomalies in the Act are to be removed this "work could be nndertiaikeni 'by -the Unions, etc., on behalf of the mieaj."'