“POSITION IS CERTAINLY BAD.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18972, 20 January 1930, Page 15

“POSITION IS CERTAINLY BAD.”

AUSTRALIAN COAL DISPUTE DISCUSSED, j The Australian coal trouble was discussed by the Rev Dr C. J. Morkane, Rector of Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday, on his return from a visit to New South Wales,. “The position in Australia is certainly bad,” said Dr Morkane, “but the impression gained during my visit was that it would be a mistake for the Government to take any drastic steps against the miners. It is to be hoped that means towards bringing about a compromise will be used before there is any further spilling of blood. One gathered that an amicable settlement could be reached. There appears to have been an exaggeration of the unlawfulness of the miners, who have not gone to the extremes we have been told, although their conduct cannot easily be overlooked in some cases. “In particular instances the miners had grounds for complaint, and there is a good deal of sympathy towards them among the people of Australia generally. This sympathetic attitude is more pronounced than one would expect. Twenty thousand people, mainly men of the working class, assembled on one occasion in Sydney at Christmas time as a demonstration of sympathy with the miners. The police intervened and dispersed the crowd. “While they are sympathetic on one hand, the people, however, do not justify all the things the miners have done, and are not desirous of allowing their attitude to be construed into one of support for downright lawlessness. “As a result of the strike,” continued Dr Morkane, “Australian business has suffered considerable depreciation. It is noticeable in all branches of industrial and commercial activity. Few people are prepared to do any buying. The Christmas period saw many thousands of people in the business areas of Sydney, but they were only ‘window shopping,’ and very little buying of the more expensive type of goods and material was done. “The falling off of business has caused a great deal of unemployment, and this is an aspect that is very serious, poverty and distress being very noticeable. Distress is being keenly felt in many of the lower working-class homes of Sydney, where a lot can be learned of discomfort and adversity.” While in New South Wales Dr Morkane was accompanied by Father G. B. O’Meeghan, a member of the Holy Cross College staff. Dr Morkane left for Mosgiel to-day.