THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2396, 11 January 1909, Page 5

THE MINERS’ DIFFICULTY.

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS.

FAVORABLY RECEIVED BY MINERS.

(Press Association.)

THAMES, Jan. 9. The Government’s decision as to mining risks has given groat satisfaction locally, and has relieved what promised shortly to become a serious position.

REEFTON, Jan. 9. ’The hope of a settlement- of the mining dispute by the Government taking over the insurance is very favorably received here at an executive meeting of the Miners’ Federation last night and at a. conference of employers to-day. Tlio latter being doubtful of.the proposed amendment of laws when Parliaments meets are consulting Ministers. The result is expected to be made known at any time.

GISBORNE TRADES COUNCIL CONGRATULATIONS. The mining difficulty and its solution by the Government Insurance Department was touched upon by the East Coast Trades and Labor Council last Saturday evening. Mr. T. B. Sweet said he believed in giving credit where credit was due, and the Government Insurance Department in deciding to accept miners without examination had solved a very awkward problem. He moved that “This Council -congratulates the Government on having solved the difficulty re miners’ complaint.” Mr. Maddison seconded the proposition* which was unanimously adopted.

REEFTON MINE-OWNERS’ ACTION. GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL NOT YET ACCEPTED. [Press Association.] . . REEFTON, Jan. 10. On receipt of Government information. that they endorse undertaking mining risks by the Insurance Department and after conference with the miners’ committee the employing companies wrote to the secretary of the Miners’ Union, Iteefton, that the matter is still under consideration by the mine-owners. -Their difficulty is that the proposal to insure till Parliament meets is merely a palliative. Before accepting that the mine-own-ers want to know what legislative change the Government proposes to make with the object of settling the difficulty. The mine-owners- do not wish to effect a- merely temporary settlement, and reopen the whole "question six months hence. The mineowners accordingly despatched u wire asking for an outline of the proposed legislation dealing with the Act as a guide to go on. No reply has yet been received.

Last night over three hundred miners assembled in Princess Theatre and were addressed by Mr. Semple (Greymoutli) and other members of the Minors’ Federation. Matters so far were placed before ; them and they agreed to leave the management of tho affair in the hands of the Miners’ Federation.. Votes of thanks were passed to tho Federation officers, to Mr P. ,T. O’Regau and Dr.Conlan. This was all that was done. The situation is now growing in intensity. Yesterday tlio men were delighted at the prospect of resuming work. The dispute has been most distasteful to all. They considered that the difficulty was tho medical examination, and that alone. The action of the Government, tardy as it was. was cordially approved. ' Many of the men who were about to go away stayed, hoping for a settlement.

Tho disappointment in town is extreme at tlie failure of the management to agree to tho proposal. Many workers recommend sweeping away the Act, as the cause of the trouble. Many others, on the other hand, hold that the Act is necessary in order to protect the victims of miners’ complaint. The employers are unwilling to employ men at once, only to reopen tho question six months hence. They consider that the Act presses too heavily on tho industry, and will cripple evory mining venture at all fluctuating. Consumption, according to Dr. Gill’s report, is shown to be very prevalent in .Reefton 'among both sexes; and consumption in miners is liable to turn into pneumonociosis. Without medical examination there is no chance to detect this. There is no guarantee that the Act, as amended, will meet tho situation, especially 'as strong exception js taken in labor circles to clause 17. Only one mine is working, the Golden Fleece, its tributors having fallen in with the Government proposal. At last night’s meeting they were consequently allowed to engage men. The men have now been for a fortnight last Thursday without work.

INSURANCE COMPANIES PRO TEST. GOVERNMENT ACTION STRONGLY CONDEMNED. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. The insurance companies accident insurance business in New Zealand have unitedly protested against the decision of tlie Government, and a telegram to that effect was forwarded to Sir Joseph Ward on Saturday. They state that if anyone is to be indemnified it is the employers and not •a. State Department* but the State Insurance Department is to be indemnified, then the other companies doing business in the Dominion should also be indemnified. Otherwise the whole of tlie business must go to the State Department, mnd tlie latter will have more risks than it can safely carry. of the public, on hearing on Saturday morning of the Government s. volte face, wiss considerable. In view oi the quite recent statements made by the Premier and the Hon. Mr. Miltm they were quite unprepared tqr the surrender and at a loss to understand ADVERSE NEWSPAPER CRITICEvcn the Government newspaper here adversely criticises the action ot tho Minister, and states that, while the Government lias been sayin„ “No” with great emphasis ior a

week, some explanation should be forthcoming for suddenly saying “Yes’ 5 to the miners’ demands for insurance without medical inspection. The-“ Times” adds: “Failure to moke a proper explanation places the Government in the position of being subjected to much hostile criticism. Can it be that the taxpayers are going to take for six months the risk that the insurance departments 'will not accept owing to a Parliament making a muddle of the Compensation Act? 'lf this is so, the miners have forced the Government out of its original position, If it is not so, wo should be told about it. in any case, we do rot see why the decision of the Cabinet should be conveyed in such a violent hurry to the Miners’ Federation. It flight be supposed that the mineowners would be the people to inform that policies would be issued without inspection, for it is.they who have to pay the premiums, and it is they who are asking the men to submit to examination. If they found they could secure ‘cover’ without a medical' test, they would give notice withdrawing the stipulation that the men would hive to be examined, and the miners could go back to work as usual.” The. “Dominion,” under the heading “Another Surrender,” says : “The country will learn with amazement, today that the Government has decided that the State Insurance Department will issue policies covering miners’ risks without requiring a preliminary examination. Were it not that Sir Joseph Ward himself supplied the texfbf the message,, in which lie has communicated this decision to the miners, we should li>ive found it difficult to believe that the Government had decided upon a course of action which was rejected as improper *by Sir .Joseph Ward and Mr. Millar only a few days ago, and which the leading newspapers, irrespective of their political views, united in saying could not be entertained. The Government has now decided to reverse the decision which earned this applause. The Department is to accept any kind of risk without insisting on medical examination, and its funds will be guaranteed against any resultant loss by placing the burden on the unfortunate taxpayers. What defence the Government can put forward for utilising the public funds to make good the losses that may be incurred li5 T misusing a State Department in this fashion we are at a loss to imagine. The Prime Minister has simply decided, in his anxiety to placate the miners, to indemnify the Insurance Department for takng up a business which the Department lias already refused as unsound, and which the Department could not take up without condemning itself as ?i useless institution deserving of instant abolition. Rolia'nce, confident reliance, is placed to be sure ‘on the honor of (he (miners that none but bona fide claims will be made.’ Could anything be more laughable than this pitiful hope that labor which has once more demonstrated its ability to squeeze the Government will use its power 'mercifully? The public cannot but feel seriously alarmed at this fresh surrender to militant labor, a surrender which Ills the specially alarming fea_ ture of being based upon a misuse of the public funds.” . The “Post” heads its article "A Deplorable Precedent,” and says: ‘ On the face of it the method adopted by the Government for the settlement of the deadlock with which the mining industry was threatened is a very evil example.” . It adds. “With this indemnity behind it we presume tint the Department will feel obliged to do as it is told, but the whole procedure is unbusinesslike and unprincipled, and a deplorably had precedent for future use. That the Government lias nothing ‘up its sleeve’ to justify what is prima facie unjustifiable seems to follow from the ingenious plea of the Premier that ‘in taking this course t-lie Government relies with confidence on the honor of the 'miners that none hut bona fide claimswill be made.’ Talk oi this kind is not business. A business man i\ ho puts a blank cheque in circulation with a pious expression of hope that the holder will be moderate in his use ot it is entitled to no sympathy it the cheque is ultimately filled m for more than he can pay. In the present case there will of course he cash enough m the Treasury to meet whatever demands may he made, hut- that in fact in no way redeems the viciousness ot the principle, nor will the publication of mi elaborate, legal argument- to prove that the risk is small help to in end matters. If the risk is small there is more reason for allowing the proper parties to hear it without a further charge upon the taxpa\eis. The Government 'has endeavored to repair its blind blundering over clause 10 by a deliberate act of maladministration which is the more unjustifiable.”