PROSPECTS GLOOMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 242, 9 October 1920, Page 7

PROSPECTS GLOOMY.

INDEFINITE COAL OUTLOOK. OVERSEAS ADVICE UNSATISFACTORY. PUIvEMIRO DISPUTE UNSETTLED. Still there seems to be no prospect that the Auckland Gas Co. will be able to resume its service before the middle or perhaps the end of next week. The shipping advices vary from day to day, and they clearly indicate that the time for the use of the words "will" and "shall" is now past- The most accurate indications of coal deliveries from oversea? must now be indicated with the assistance of those vague verbs "may" and "should." The probable departures from Newcastle, and even from Weatport, are continually changing, and one after another of the vessels that go across to Australia to load coal for the port of Auckland are delayed, held up. or diverted, while several that should arrive in the more or loss near <>r distant future may carry no coal at all with an ultimate destination in Auckland. At the present time advices are to rand that the Kaiwarra is still at Newcastle, and tho six-masted barquentine E. R. Sterling, with her sister schooner Helen B. Sterling, arc alt=o believed to be. loading there. Several Japanese colliers are also reported to be taking in ooal for the port of Auckland, and t:ie Ten»ho Maru is advised as having sailed yesterday with 4500 tons, none of which if,o:ng to the Cias Company. Th-> lviku Moru is alr-o due here to-morro\V with 42C0 tons from Brisoanc. The Karma may sail from West-port early next week. WAIKATO COAL. In the meantime the prospects of gaining more coal from the Waikato are not completely satisiactorv. for Pukemiro is still unworked, and according to the intimation given this morning by Mr. E. S. Wight, managing director of the company, there is little enough likeliliood of the mine being worked for a while yet. I unless gome unexpected settlement is i attained. The fact of the matter, the company's explanation this morning, seems to be that the secretary of tne. }i[iners' Federation agreed last Thursday that work would be started immediately provided the Disputes Committee went into the question of the rights and wrongs of the present difference between tha company and thi. men. Following this them was no resumption of work, but merely some talk of a ballot on Friday. Mr. Wright stated that this influenced tne owners in withdrawing c the offer on the ground that they were being trifled with. The Taupiri mines are still working , , and maintain a fair output, which is being distributed far and wide in the endeavour to meet the more pressing needs not only of Auckland, but of many other districts.