COAL FAMINE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 47, 19 November 1907, Page 5

COAL FAMINE.

BETTER FEEUNG. CHANCES 'OF SETTLEMENT. NATURE OF TRIBUNAL, 'inoiawoa—nouyioossv ssaa.i—HavHoaiai is Sydney, Novombor 18. Though tha strike outl6ok is considered to bo a little more hopeful, tho position is still very strained. , Tho Chairman of tho Proprietors' Association states that tho association favours submitting tho dispute to tho State Arbitration Court, and sees no roason for a speciallyconstituted Court, as proposed by tho Premier. Tho reports from tho 60uth0rn and western districts indicate that tho chances of a sympathetic strike are now moro remote. DISLOCATION OF TRADE. Coal in Sydney is. quoted at £3 to £3 ss. and £4 for largo, and £2 ss. to £2 15s. for small. Unless there is an early settlement prices are likely to reach a famine level. The shipping trade is becoming dislocated. Fifteen large steamers are now laid up, and the crows (numbering nearly 400) paid off. 1 Fears as to a partial failure of tho interstate servico has led to considerable speculative buying of produce. A probable outcomo of tho strike will be tho closing of some flour-mills and an advance in price. The .Union Company and the HuddartParker Company notify that all fares to and from Sydney, Tasmania, and Now Zealand ports have boen increased.

EFFECTS IN OTHER STATES. Melbourne, November 18. Owing to the laying-up of twonty steam colliers and other inter-Stato vessels, over 800 men have beon rendored idle, besides several hundred coal-lumpors. The Union Company has informed tho Postmastor-Goneral that it is impossible to get coal for the Moana at Brisbane. , The, vessel will therefore have to go direct to New Zealand. The department is enquiring into tho matter. ' Steamers plying in tho lakes have been forced to use wood fuol. A firm in tho city is keeping ita works going with shavings from tho sawmills. Adelaide, November 18. Industries are being seriously affccted through lack of coal. i Hobart, November 18. The shipping service is being curtailed owing to scarcity of coal. MR. BENT BUYS A MINE. Melbourne, November 18. As a result of the strike, it is reported the Government has. purchased the Coal Crook Company's mine.

' NOT YET SETTLED.

FAIR PROGRESS. PREMIER. HOPES TO-DAY TO MAKE AN' ANNOUNCEMENT. BY TELEGBAPH-r-PRESS ASSOCIATION—COFTBIGHT. (Reo. Nov. 19, 1.8 a.m.) Sydney, November 18. Moetings of the proprietors and miners, lasting in each instance for several hours, discussed the Premier's proposals. Both sides decline to give information. Tho Premior stated that, as he had to see both sides again to-morrow, it was not desirable to givo details of to-day's proceedings. Fair progress, had beon made, but the question was not settled. Ho.hoped to mako an announcement to-morrow. ACTION BY THE UNION COMPANY. FREIGHTS AND FARES INCREASED. Dunedin, November 18. In consequence of the coal strike, the Union Compan.v has decided on a substantial increase in freight and passenger rates, to take effect immediately. Fores from Sydney and Melbourne to New Zealand will be increased by 10 per cent., and froight rAtos on the same route by 25 per cont. Tho rates between Sydney and Melbourne and Tasmania are similarly increased. Tho directors have not yot determined whether an increaso of rates between New Zealand and Australia will bo made. Rates on coastal traffic in New Zealand will not be increased. It is understood that tho Huddart-Parker Company have agreed to a similar increase.