The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1920. BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14493, 16 October 1920, Page 6

The Waikato Times With which is incorporated The Waikato Argus. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1920. BRITAIN’S COAL CRISIS

The British miners have, by an overwhelming majority, on a second ballot, turned down the Government's proposals for a settlement of their dispute, nnd the strike notices are to stand. This, presumably, means that the cessation of work, which it was hoped would he averted, will be inaugurated from to-day, and there can be no ques- ', lion that the outlook is an ominous I une. The statement of the dispute, ss 1 outlined by our London correspondent in an article appearing in 'Thursday's issue, shows that the miners have taken j up an impossible attitude, but ap- ! parentis* they arc determined to force the position, and the matter has to be seen through. It was hoped that better counsels would have prevailed, as it has been stated that the leaders have advocated a settlement on the lines suggested by the Government; but it is . evident that other influences have. i proved the stronger, and Britain is now i faced with an upheaval which cannot but have far-reaching results; it may lead to a complete paralysis of British ; industry. Her coal trade has been u most important factor in building up Britain's trade, but the attitude of the miners for many months past has been | such as to lead to the conclusion that they have been deliberately striving to wreck the industry. They have formulated repeated demands for increase:! i wages, accompanied by shorter hours, j and though the number of men engaged in the mines has been largely augmented, the output lias consistently decreasj ed, and it is the output which »i the j all-important matter, for all branches of industry are dependent upon coal; 1 consequently a shortage of supplies means widespread unemployment. Recognising this fact, the Government, by way of compromise for a settlement of i tiie present dispute, offered to pay the I demand for increased wages provided j the miners agreed to a minimum output. I It is this proposal which the mines | hav,-. so decisively turned down; they ! want the increased pay per shift, irres- ! peclive of output. This raises the i question of the men's object, and tins was defined a few months ago in the ! baldest way by the New Statesman, ! which is very well informed in labour affairs. It stated " that it was the intention of the extreme labour leaders to make successive wage demands so as to cripple all the industries they desire to nationalise. The plan is perfectly simple and effective in itself. Everything depends on whether the Govern-ment-Is sensible enough to see through the plot and to call a halt before it his gone too far. Suppose that the Government kept on yielding in the future as Ihey have done in the past to cacti fresh demand for a rise in wages, without exacting corresponding guarantees ~r increased output. The Government . a! each surrender might console itsidf , will) the reflection thai 'such a very little addition I" the wages bill would make no great difference.' and that if j ! the industry had led as yet been ruined J | it certainly would be ruined by the comparatively trilling addition now propos- J i-.(l. Yel the time would inevitably come ; when I he poinl of insolvency would be j , reached, and the extreme, labour leaders ! ] would then turn round to the Govern- | ' ment and say: 'This is what the capi- j j talistie system has brought us to! The j industry is ruined, The ineptitude of I ,'apilalislic management is proved. Now a Hi,, -tato musl slop in and save the I situation. There is nothing else to ho ilnim.' '" 'l'll.- experience of New Zealand certainl> .lis 'ag.'s Ihe belief J 11,,,1 nu|.ii>nali>ali'iii I.'ads to industrial s pence or community prosperity. A I'ael ( , which a well-known Home journal re- to cognises, for il says pointedly: "Wo [, trust that the Government will recog- £

nise plainly whither the exlremo labouif policy is tending. The Government must either accept nationalisation in the end if they go on yielding, or well be-* fore that point is reached they must Stand their ground and fight. We our-, selves have no doubt whatever that the time has come to stand and fight, , ( Let the Government accept the chal* lenge. Let them bring the thing to aa Issue. They will be doing a great thin,} for the nation, and not least of all fo* the miners themselves."