"COAL WILL BE GOT."

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 210, 3 September 1917, Page 2

"COAL WILL BE GOT."

ACTING-PREMIER EMPHATIC. {3*he "Sydney Morning Herald," 20th August.) ""I .should like," said Mr. "Puller, on Saturday, " to deal with the last bulletin issued on behalf of the Strike Promotion Committee. ■"In spite of assurances to the contrary, we know that the committee has been desperately trying to spread this strike in certain directions, and has failed The decision announced to withdraw all hands from collieries, including enginedrivers, is about the last desperate resort of men who have now become utterly reckless of their responsibility -as citizens. The Government does hot desire in any way tod interfere with the proper' working of coal mines. It has allowed the coalminers until Thursday next to consider their position. If they will oet coal for the community, the new Act passed will not be used; but if they still refuse, the Government is determined to get coal. . "After very careful inquiry, and expert advice, we are satisfied that some colfteries can be worked without any danger. Men will be put into these collieries only. But coal' will be got, in spite of the strike committee "I think we have about reached the _mit now of these insolent challenges which are still being made to the community. It has been insuinuated that we are trying to force a general strike because a few slaughtermen, after acting in a most erratic and "uncertain way for the last week, were told that their services were not required. "For the time being the Government had no alternative but to co-operate with the scheme proposed by the carcase butchers and others to keep a regular Supply of meat for the community. We cannot allow this important matter to he determined any further by the vagaries of the Slaughtermen's Union. The Government is straining every nerve to prevent the trouble spreading any further, hut at the same time it is preparing to meet new contingencies as they arise."