The Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1920. THE SUPPLY OF COAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19848, 17 January 1920, Page 8

The Star. SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1920. THE SUPPLY OF COAL.

Reports from Wellington and Auckland indicate that those cities are already feeling the pinch in regard to supplies of coal. The shortage is making itself felt particularly in the large public services, "where the consumption of coal is large. A scarcity of coal is a much more serious business for Auckland or Wellington than it is for Christchurch. This city is fortunate in having a hydro-electric power scheme in operation, making light and power to some extent independent of the coal supply. Tho position of Christchurch would he much more unfortunate, and its citizens would bo driven to a keener appreciation of the evils of a coal shortage. if there wore no Lake Coleridge power. A coal famine in either Wellington or Auckland means the imposition of real hardship on tho inhabitants of thoso cities. Light—gas and electricity—is drastically reduced, and tho industrial interference is enormous, causing heavy losses iu production and w-nges. It is not dihicult to understand, therefore, that the effects of the go-slow policy may have serious consequences, and that tho situation may easily get beyond the control of the corporations which perforin tho ordinary public services such as lighting, transport, and tho supply of power. There are not wanting signs that, with the approach of a critical situation, the parties to tho coal mines dispute are reaching a more conciliatory state of mind. We have urged all along that a serious effort should bo made to arrive at a settlement winch will bring a period of peace to a notoriously turbulent industry. Tho miners profess to be strongly in favour of nationalisation Oi tho mines, but they are doing their utmost to kill any support nationalisation might receive. Tho strongest argument yet advanced against nationalisation is that there is not tho slightest guarantee, or even indication, that the same strike and go-slow tactics which the minors are so ready to use against private enterprise would not be used against tho State on the slightest provocation. Unless that argument can be met—and tho miners are not providing any material for the purposethe cause of nationalisation is not likely to flourish in this -country. There exists a very real desire on the part of the people of New Zealand to see justice done to the mining community. It is recognised that the work is arduous, and is performed under conditions which can never be entirely attractive. Work underground possesses drawbacks which are only fully realised by thoso who have performed it for an appreciablo period. It is a fact, however, that minez-s are highly paid, as compared with other skilled workmen, and they have probably more leisure on their hands than any other section of workers. An atmosphere of mystery hangs over the causes of tho present dispute, and the refusal of the miners to accept the proffered conference does not help their case in the eyes of the public. We have never yet seen a reasonable justification 0 f tbeir tactics or an intelligible statement of their "•wrongs.” Their apologists are eloquent, but obscure, full of phrases but destitute of facts. What the country wants to see is the miners at work, anil getting a fair return for the labour that is to fill the coal bins for the cominewinter. °