COAL SHORTAGE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16947, 23 September 1920, Page 6

COAL SHORTAGE.

* AUCKLAND TRAM SERVICE IN JEOPARDY. | POSSIBLE RAILWAY "CUT." (SPECIAL TO "THE riIESS.") AUCKLAND. September 22. Owing to the shortage of coal, the tramway services will almost cerfainly have to cease running on Saturday, while industries and householders are already seriously inconvenienced. The Mayor stated this morning that the City Council's efforts to obtain supplies of coal from shipments arriving to-day lir.d been futile, as ho had received the following message from the Prime Minister explaining tho Railway Department's inability to accede to the Corporation's request for a loan of 1000 tons of coal: —"Replying to your telegram, havo made careful enquiries regarding your request for loan of 1000 tons of coal from railways/ but regret that present position of their stocks renders this impracticable. I have made further ulrgent representatichs, however, to the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, urging that instructions be given for the immediate release of coai for vessels awaiting cargoes at .Newcastle for New_ Zealand, and will advise you of position on receipt of reply. Meantime every possible effort will be made to secure supplies for the citv's activities."

• A reply was also reeeivod bv the Mavo/ from tho General Manager of Railways, conveying the inability of the It ail way Department to release coal for loan to the city. The head of tho Department most directly concerned with the full position for the Auckland railways suggested the possibility of another railway "cut" in the near future. Tho Auckland railways are in a position to carry on for some time yet with the supplies of coke and Newcastle and Mount Kembla coal now available, but it is the general opinion in the yards that unless the conditions alter for the better very quickly, an almost immediate "cut will have to be brought into operation to conserve supplies.

THE WAIKATO DISPUTE.

FEARS OF SPREAD OF THE TROUBLE. (PRF.lt* ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM. WELLINGTON. September 22. The executive of the Miners' Federation sat again all day to-day discussing uo strike at the WaHrato coal mines. Mr Arbncklo, secretary of the Federation. stated to a reporter that up to the present he had nothing to report. There are possibilities of the coal mines throughout tho Dominion becoming involved if tho strike at Pukenuro and Roto war u is not settled, as Mr Arbncklo stated a few days ago that the men iv> tho other mines had pledged themselves to stand by the members of ix>e Huntly Union. _ If no agreement is reached soon regarding the dispute in the north,-it is feared that the position generally will becorcc serious. ACTION BY GOVERNMENT. • {special to "the mess.") WELLINGTON, September 22. No new development, so far as the Government is concerned, have occurred in connexion witfy the coal miners' dispute in the Waikato. Mr P.-Hally has not-yet been ablo to go north. Ho is engaged in endeavouring to adjust matters in the South Island. Tho position there is understood to be promising better than for the past few davs, though the men at the State mines are stil] idle. In the absence of Mr Hally, the Prime Minister has requested the Conciliatior Commissioner at Auckland to go to Huntl-" mid endeavour to bring tne parties together. _ The executive of the Miners' Federation has not yet met Mr Massey in connexion with tho Huntly trouble, and the other points in dispute, but it is probable that they will interview him tomorrow.