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91. That the disastrous results apparent throughout this struggle have, in our opinion, arisen through the men giving heed to crude and deceptive teachings, and fostering amongst themselves unwise and misleading views on the respective relations between capital and labour, without really knowing their interdependence upon each other, or, indeed, without having truly defined the meaning of the terms, or formed correct views of the distinctive functions which capital and labour are called upon to fulfil in the world's work. 92. That the correspondence printed in Mr. Bishop's evidence, and in the appendix, between the local unions at the Grey and at the Buller, and their respective mine-managers, as well as other letters submitted to the Commissioners, proves the fact that the leaders of these unions, and no doubt their members also, had gradually assumed an attitude towards their employers under which it was fast becoming impossible to carry on the necessary work of the mines, and which if persevered in must ultimately have led to the company refusing to accept trade contracts, and to such a serious restriction of tradejmat many of their employes must have been thrown idle. 93. That the system of affiliation with distant unions, and, indeed, the whole system of unionism, unless administered by leaders who have had opportunities of studying the great social problems involved, must inevitably lead to deeper errors than those they seek to rectify. 94. That under more perfect administration such associations would doubtless be productive of benefit, both to the operatives who seek employment and to those who provide employment. Savings of Mining Population. 95. That in the course of the inquiry evidence was given to the Commissioners to the effect that the miners largely avail themselves of the credit system in the purchase of their supplies, and that since the strike their rents have been allowed to fall considerably in arrear; the Commissioners therefore took steps to ascertain the extent of the savings-bank operations during this year, in so far as they are usually gazetted at the end of each financial year, with the object of obtaining a broader view of their general position. 96. That the following figures indicate a position amongst the frugal part of the people there indicative of comfort: — Total amount of balances at credit of 134 depositors on £ s. d. 31st December, 1889 (average, £59 ss. 3d.) .... 7,940 10 1 Deposits during nine months to 30th September, 1890 .... _ .... ' £3,340 1 7 Withdrawals during same period .... 2,767 911 Increase of aggregate deposits 572 11 8 Total amount of balances at credit of 138 depositors on 30th September, 1890 (average, £61 13s. 9|d.) .... £8,513 1 9 47 accounts closed during twelve months of 1889: amount £2,510 14 3 36 „ nine „ 1890: „ 1,920 16 3 Mines Opened. 97. The Commissioners have the honour to report in respect of the past history of the leases affecting the Grey Valley — 98. That the several mines there were originally opened by different proprietors, who held leases of different dates and on different terms, and that each of these was separately opened, and independently worked. Brunnee Mine. 99. That the Brunner Mine area consists of 1,280 acres, comprised in Section 2a, Square 119, Grey Coal Eeserve, a lease of which was originally granted to Messrs. Croaker, Hughes, and McCarthy for twenty-one years from Ist January, 1874. This lease was by them transferred to the Brunner Coal-mining Company in 1875, and afterwards, in 1879, to Mr. Martin Ken-