SHORTAGE OF COAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 9

SHORTAGE OF COAL.

SCAROTTY Off lABOUB,

managing directortjf Coal Company predicts a great shortage of coal in the near future. Asked the reason for his holding such sa opinion, Colonel Holgate said: "It is not only a question of shortage of miners; eaitars to man sco-wb axe almost unprocurable. It is a common occurrence to have a vessel detained in Auckland a week for want of a man. The difficulty is that the majority of the men now available will not -work constantly. One trip or two, and then a holiday seems to be ■the idea. Sailors of military age are exempt from service; but if men are reported to the military authorities for not working they axe drafted into camp, which, of conrse, does not improve the shipping industry. The only remedy is compulsory, universal service, which means that during the war every ablebodied man should be working at something, irrespective of position. You have only to walk up Queen Street any day, and it ie astonishing to see 'the number of able-bodied men who are apparently doing nothing." Regarding the demand for Signer pay for coal-miners, Colonel Holgaie is of opinion that the I/abonr Federation is out for trouble. The demand of 20 per cent, and the release of Mr. Webb, M.P., is, of course, the first move. Coal-miners, at the present time, he Bays, are the best paid men in the-whole of New Zealand.