STRIKE PREDICTED.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 258, 24 July 1908, Page 7

STRIKE PREDICTED.

POSSIBLE STOPPAGE OF COAL SUPPLIES. . WIDESPREAD UNEASINESS. ' LITTLE . DEFINITE INFORMATION. ;' - (BX TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) - Wanganul, July 23. A Southern commercial man, who is on a visit to Wanganui, informs,tho "Herald" tliiit ho has every reason to believe that a big 'strike—more or less goneral in character • —was being engineered among tho coal ■ miners. "If-their plans do not miscarry," ho remarked, "I hare good authority for saying that August 1 has beon fixed as tho date, and most of the South Island miners, and probably many of tho North, will come out. Tho Government, as well as commercial firms, are of tho sort," / ho added, '!for thoy are placing very largo orders, both in New .Zealand and Australia, for immediate delivery." "STRIKES IN THE AIR." SERIOUS VIEWS TAKEN IN AUCKLAND. (BX TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, July,23. With regard to the Wanganui message as .to a probable strike of coal miners, a " Star " -reporter' investigated the 'matter in the city, this afternoon. It is apparent from tho in- ■. formation he gleaned that .there is something rumour. 'Apparently the trouble has been'simmering for two or three months. ylhb manager of a company holding coal mines in tho north of this Island said that the information was news to him. Ho presumed the company would be subject to any ' .general move, 1 but they had not heard of any fridtion. They had been working amicably. He judged that the telegraphed rumour was\j wrong,-for the reason that so many miners wero applying for work.' ' i ; The position assumed a more serious aspect, when the pressman was informed by tho • mandger of.one ;of' the largest firms in the Dominion that there had recently been trouble, in 'one of the. companies south of Auckland. The opinion- was expressed though •that these miners would not now.go out, and that any strike which might*occur would not apply'to. tho North Island. .The manager was. . asked what had disturbed the men. He re- \ plied-that the inclination to strike was in tlie air,' and opined that tho . best thing which ' could happen in' tho direction of quelling this feeling would, bo an. all-round depression. Times had bceii good and labour, had got very : independent. _ Harder times would bring them to, their bearings. ; SIMMERING FOR A LONG TIME. The head of another large coal-dealing firm regarded, the.position in a still moro'serious- . light.; I ' This'firm was hint a couple of-months ago, and has been filling its yards ' ever since. ■ The manager added thatl'it was' ' quite true that other big' firms had been laying ■ in- large supplies' in consequence of .in-' formation they had received of the action ol the ;niiners. The gentleman, interviewed in the course of some very" pointed remarks said that the miners did. not know, what they wanted. ; Still-they were discontented, ■ and the : trouble; had ■ been simmering for; a long time. "They mean business," lie continued, " but,they are fools if they.do go out." . ' .The manager of, the largest coat consuming firm in the city, after expressing his concern,said .the telegram conveyed " news "to him,' though he had heard that the New Zealand miners might striko iir sympathy, with the miners across' tho other side, who were in a state of upset. V' ' It was also gathered that the Government has .bought in an enormous supply of. coal, principally-for railway use.;,\ ; ATTITUDE OF THE MINERS' FEDERATION. ; ■ r .THE'. BLACKBALL STRIKE AGAIN. (BX; TELEGKAPH —PRESS' ASSOCIATION.) ■ Christohuroh, July 23. ' About a month ago a conference was held -between . representatives' of the ' Blackball Miners'' Union and, of the, company relative to the demand for an increase in wages and other 'concessions which was. being made by the Union. The Union representatives then . intimated that if th<s' demands ' wpro not granted the'matter would 'bo' referred 'to tlie 1 Miners' Federation of Now.Zealand, and tliat bddy would approach tho company in support of, the demands. ' The' miners said that they, would not go to tlib -Arbitration Court 1 to decide the matter, but the Federation), and that; if'the demands iwere. not 1 granted a strike-would probably follow.. p . "A RIDICULOUS RUMOUR." REPORTS ' DISCREDITED IN DUNEDIN. (BI TELEQRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) V ■ bunedin,'July 23. Mr. A. Forbes, general secretary of the, - Otago. Coal Miners'' Union, -.told a reporter, to-day that/-the messago from Wanganui, abbut a ; big 'strike- is a ridiculous rumour. In''the course ' of his business he had .'every opportunity to know whether there was any. . organised preparation' f<jr a " big strike." or not. .There.has .been noncommunication between tho/O.fcago, Union and any other coal miners' unioi£pn such a question, and tho rtiraoiir is no'moro than-stupid sensation.:' •As regards the local miners' disputes, Mr. Forbes states that arrangements have been made-for conferences between the employers and 'miners next week.» It is confidently expected by the parties that an. amicablo settlemerit will be effected.. Last night, the Allandale branch of the union held a meeting. Mr.; A. Weston, president of the union, addressed, the miners and explained tho posi- .( »tibh.: ..He emphasised tho need of avoiding . drastic action, and assured the men that their representatives wero not agitators but were anxious to 'obtain improvement of the . - meii's industrial, circumstances by means of reasonable methods. ; So: far as, the Otago employers and coal merchants aro concerned, they havo had no intimation of a general striko impending. They consider tho rumour as the outcome of imagination..