A CRISIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 200, 10 June 1929, Page 5

A CRISIS.

N.S.W. COAL DISPUTE.

DRIVERS AND FIREMEN ACT. (United Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, July 9. A crisis has occurred ip. the New South Waleß coal industry. The en-gine-drivers and firemen employed at northern mines outside Associated Collieries to-day decided to cease work on Wednesday. They will, meet their State Council on Wednesday, and will pass a resolution calling upon the drivers and firemen in southern and western collier ie© to cease work. An attempt will also be made to induce similar action in Victoria. —Australian Press Association,

SYDNEY GAS SUPPLY FAILS. SYDNEY, June 9. The approaches to nearly every colliery on the northern fields will be picketed by thousands of miners tomorrow morning unless members of the Colliery Staffs’ Association decide to discontinue handling coal. The miners are reported to, be determined to prevent the winning of coal in any of the closed pits. Strong bodies of police have been stationed at the mines to meet any case of emergency. The shortage of good quality coal is beginning to affect Sydney’s gas supply, as was evident yesterday, when the gas failed throughout the metropolitan area served by the Australian Gaslight Company. The failure was a result of the stoppage in the northern mines causing the usual supplies of coal to bo cut off, the coal which the company is handling failing to produce sufficient gas to meet requirements. —Australian Press Association.

MR STERLING’S OPINION. SYDNEY, June 9. Mr H. H. Sterling (General Manager of the New Zealand Railways), after a visit to Newcastle, said: “If I were looking for coal contracts Newcastle would 1 he the last place to which I would come.”

Mr Sterling’s visit is one purely of railway business and has no association with coal matters. —Australian Press Association.