The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1921. MINERS AND ARBITRATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16496, 5 August 1921, Page 6

The Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 1921. MINERS AND ARBITRATION.

The possibility of more trouble ir the coal mines is onto more before the public. Mr J. Arbuckle, who is retiring from the position of general secre tary of the Federation, lias announcer the determination of the miners tc “ fight to the last ditch ” rather thai: surrender on the question of a nationa agreement or submit to local award? made by the Arbitration Court. Tn ai: exceedingly provocative letter Air Ari buckle says that if the owners attempt j to burst up the present national agreej men! 4 ‘ it will cost them and this country more pounds than perhni)3 they arc prepared to risk.” Almost every sentence breathes defiance and threats, and it is precisely the kind of communication which will precipitate rather than avoid trouble. "When tho miners had the opportunity they did not display any noticeable anxiety to have the national agreement extended. The subject was discussed at great length, but the delegates made no- serious attempt to get down to business, preferring rather to air their views on some industrial theories of their own. For instance, the idea that the mines should return interest on the capital invested was scouted, and the owners were reproved for making the suggestion that shareholders should receive some consideration. It is not difficult to understand the miners’ dislike of the Arbitration Court and the basing of awards on the evidence brought forward by the parties. The militant unions, which are concerned with tho production and handling of essential commodities, discovered some years ago that more would be conceded to force than to reason. They played their game as long as the employers would agree, and the employers, under protest, agreed as long as they could pass on to the consumer tho extra costs involved by their concessions to threats. The public understood perfectly well what was being done, and its resentment was not lessened by its knowledge. The price of coal is far too high in this coal-produc-ing country, and the public will not be satisfied until there is some evidence that coal is sharing in the general decline towards normality. 'I here is no sound reason why the miners should be a Jaw unto themselves, and be permitted to flout the constitutional means of adjusting legitimate differences with their employers. The Arbitration Court is the resort of hundreds of unions throughout the Dominion, and it is preposterous to argue that it can be used to “ enforce all the old conditions which were a disgrace to the coal owners.’ The public is convinced that the real objection to the Court is that it would be a check on the excessive demands which arc generally the outstanding features of the miners’ disputes. Tf the minors, in their desire for n national agreement, elected to go to the Court for a Dominion award, they would have a case which could be argued. The fact remains that the national agreement did not bring peace to the coal industry. There was a succession of more or less serious stoppages of work, and until the past few months there was not a plentiful supply of coal. It is interesting to observe that an agitation is afoot to 9top tho importation of coal, on account of the glut caused by previous importations. The threat of a general strike in the mines, which Mr Arbuckle makes in the plainest terms, should administer the quietus to this agitation. The sad experience of the past must have convinced the country that a large reserve of coal is absolutely necessary if the public is to be delivered from an industrial tyranny.