THAT COAL CABLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3063, 26 April 1917, Page 7

THAT COAL CABLE

HOW IT CAME TO BE SENT STATEMENT BY HON. J. A. HANAN Asked yesterday hy a. reporter what was the meaning of the reference made to him in tho newspaper report of tho prosecutions in Auckland in connection with the "go-slow" charges, tho Hon. J. A. Hanan said:—

In the month of Novemhcr, as I was visiting the West Coast on Dopartmental husiness, I was asked by the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald (Minister of Mines) to meet and discuss_ wath tho coal miners tho matters in dispute at the Stato Mines' at Runanga. While engaged on this subject I received a telegram i from the ActingPriruo Minister, stating that the Government desired to send the s.s. to Albany with coal for tho hospital ship and for New Zealand transports calling there on 'route, and that he understood the miners did not object to coal being sent from Now Zealand to Albany provided it was for Now Zealand transports. He asked mo if I would ascertain whether his conclusion was correct and let Jiim know at once, as the coal steamer would bo at AVestport on Sunday, and would go on to Greymouth. On Sunday morning I sent for some of the representatives of the men and discussed the question I with them, strongly urging them to agree to load tho ship next day, for the purposes mentioned. After some opposition on their part and doubts heing expressed by them a;j to the coal being used only for the purposes mentioned, I found that thoy were desirous of doing nothing that would injure the coal miners of Australia in connection with the strike that was then existing there. The)' said they wished to ascertain the views of tho coalminers of Australia on the" subject. In order to obviate timo being lost in let-ter-writing and replies, and consequent delay in getting the boat loaded and dispatched, and having regard to the urgency of the matter which I stressed, the question of a cablegram being sent hy theni to Australia was discussed, but they objected to paying for it. Seeing the matter was a vital one as_ affecting the , and as the ActingPrime Minister informed me it was urgently necessary that v the collier should leave immediately, otherwise _ transports might be delayed in the journey, to get over the difficulty of loading and dispatching tho boat as soon' as possible, I agreed to pay for a cablegram, signed-Arbucklo, which was as follows:—-. "Secretary, Coal' Workers' Association, ; "Sydney. ' ■ "We have granted permission to New Zealand Government to load —' with coal for Albany for hospital ship and New Zealand -troopships only. Wiro immediately whether 'this wili affect Australian, position, ' and whether we aro at liberty to agree to futnro supplies for such ships." The work of loading the boat proceeded next day, and as soon as she obtained tho necessary, supply sho left tho port for her destination, a result which I know gave satisfaction to tho Acting-Prime Minister.