COAL MONOPOLY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 100, 29 April 1940, Page 8

COAL MONOPOLY.

MISUSE BY MINERS.

POSITION IN AUSTRALIA. AUCKXANDEK'S IMPRESSIONS. The coal strike is most unpopular in Australia. according to impressions gained by Mr. W. A. Boucher, of Auckland, who returned in Ihe Mariposa today after a short husine-s trip to Sydney and Melbourne. "The feeling among the public is that the miners are using their monopoly of the right to supply coal to the public and the industries of Australia to intimidate the public as well as shipping and industrial organisation?,' , he said.

Mr. Boucher said that it was felt that when the miners had refused to supply coal to hospitals, which in the main catered for the worki".;* class, the position had reached a serious stage. Apparently the coal miners were being led by Communists, ami. the question arose whether the Australian (Jovernincnt would be prepared to take away the. monopoly which had been granted to the coal miners and allow the mines to he worked by free labour. Referring to business conditions. Mr. Boucher said he found a slowing up in trade generally, owing to the war, the falling off l>eing most noticeable in the building industry. An interesting controversy was occupying the attention of the public at the present time, be added. A large section of the business community thought that Australia should revert to sterling. If this was done Australia would effect a great saving in the redemption of loans, some of which were domiciled in the United States, and it would also lower the cost of materials being bought in the United States. It was thought in some circles that the exchange would be adjusted to the basis of sterling before the end of the year.