IMPORTED COAL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 682, 6 December 1909, Page 7

IMPORTED COAL.

ONE STRIKE LEADER EXPOSED BY ANOTHER. ME. HUGHES ON MR. BOWLING AND THE JAPANESE CARGO. Sydney, December 4. Mr. Poter Bowling, secretary of the Coalminors' Federation, 'informed an interviewer that he was not surprised that the coal lumpers had refused to handle tho Japanese coal that arrivc-d by tho P. and 0. steamer Palermo. Ho did not think any self-respect-ing unionist would handle "scab" coal. , When Mr. Hughes,"president of tho Wntorsido Workers' Union, heard of Mr. Bowling's statement, he gave his views to tho press. He dedaied that Mr. Bowling's expressed Mitudo was different from that which ho had ossumed when the question of working the coal, came before the Stiiko Congress. Ho must declino to permit Mr. Eowling, or any other man, to ( "run with tho hare and bnut with the hounds." Mr. Bowling voted 11 the Congress for the resolution in favour of the coal being handled, and even offered to go to tho coal lumpers and tell them to handle it. [The Strike Congress decided that the Palormo's cargo of Japanese coal ehould be handled, but tho Coal Lumpers' Union objected that tho importation of coa] was a blow at tho Southern mines, which havo a contract to supply the P. and 0. steamers.] RECONSIDERATION OF PALERMO'S CASE. (Hoc. December 5, 5.3 p.m.) ' . Sydney, December 5. The' Strike Congress has called a special meeting of tho Lumpers' Union for Monday to consider an offer by the manager of the P. and 0. Company 'to withdraw tho Palermo's crow from the working of coal if tho lumpers will, reconsider their*;- decision and consent to haniiie thecal.* 1,, " , '"""" ■" ''- " Tho strike leaders will explain their position at Monday's meeting. ,''

- BRITISH CARGOES.', London, December 3. The steamer Devonshire, on tho Tyne, is loading 5000 tons of steamer coal for Australia. Arrangements are boing made to dispatch half a dozen other steamers to Australia with coah ' Adelaide, December 4. Another French ship has arrived with Welsh coal as ballast. . PUBLIC-SPIRITED ACTION. COAL-COMPANY'S REASONABLE PRICE.

Sydney, December 4. The Premier, Mr. Wade, has issued a statement showing that the Bellambi Coal Company offered the Railway Commissioners 7000 tons of coal at prices prevailing before the strike, and that the offej has been accepted. Tho Premier commended this public-spirited action to olher owners, and added that if private ownors attempted to exploit tho public th» Government would step in and secure coal from any source. They would checkmate any attempt to bleed tho community.

STARVED SERVICES. GaS NEAR ITS LIMIT-KEROSENE FOR CITY LIGHTING. OIL FUEL FOR LOCOMOTIVES. Sydney, Docomber 4. The olectrio lighting of Sydnoy can bo maintained till January 10, but gaslighting will cease in eleven dajs. Tho municipal authoritius are fitting up lamps to burn kerosene. The Railway Commissioners are fitting up several locomotives' to take oil fuel.