THE COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 112, 5 February 1919, Page 6

THE COAL CRISIS

TROUBLE AT BLACKBALL A GO-SLOW* POLICY HINT OF FUTURE UNREST SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES

The coal situation is one such as to cause users of coal the gravest concern. There is already an acute shortage, and there seems to be only the most slender prospect of more plentiful supplies coming forward soon, at any rate from our own mines. Indeed, the information is that everything points to more trouble at the mines. It is reported that in at least one of the mines a drastic go-slow policy has been adopted, and is being put into effect already.

The minors at the Paparoa mine resumed work on Saturday attar 1-1 weeks v of idleness, but on that very day, it is said, fresh trouble developed at the Blackball mine. The miners' held a union meeting during the week-end, and it is uiidertitooii that at that meeting.they decided upon this go-slow -policy. Information received is to the effect that this policy was put into effect on Monday, and that the output of tlie mine was greatly reduced in consequence.

The dispute has arisen over the trucking of coal from the face to the place known by the name of the "flat-sheet." It has always been considered rjiat the hewing rate paid to face-men covered also the work of trucking of the coal broken down to this place, where it was collected by the truckers, and by them conveyed to the place from which it was taken to the surface. The demand of the miners now is that the truckers shall lake the coal from the face. The effect of this on Monday, so it is reported, was to reduce the daily production, of two miners to about three or foiirHrucis per. day, whereas it ought to be about l>o or 30 trucks per day. Eepovt is that-the miners have determined that until this demand is granted they will go slow, and that the union has decreed that no miner ehall earn a larger amount per day than eleven shillings. As tho men are paid at piece rates for the hewing of coal, this means that they have decided to reduce output. Exact figures of tho average earnings of face-men in Blackball are not available, but it is probable that they ■wouWEe about .£1 per day. This means if the information is correct that the output is to be reduced by about half. If the facts are correct, the miners have been guilty of a breach of the agreement under which they are working. One of the clauses in the agreement—a clause which was designed to prevent irritation tactics, and strikes on 'frivolous pretexts—provides that before action is taken in any dispute it shall first be referred to a disputes committee, especially set up for this purpose. This course' was uot followed iu this Inst dispute. Another Version, Another version of the reason for the trouble at Blackball was given by Mr. W. Parry, secretary of the Federation of Goalmmers' Unions, but Mr. Parry's account is flatly contradicted elsewhere. Mr. Parry stated that he had received no official notification of any trouble other than'a difikd.ty with respect to the use of "permitted explosives" at Blackball. Ihe Mines Department had insisted upon certain sections of the Mines Act dealing with "permitted explosives" being enforced, and this had resulted in a reduction of the miners' earnings, owing :o the fact that the explosive used was not so powerful, and consequently shifted lees material, than that previously nlmT it S£ we y er ' ;t Wi > s anticipated that the difficulty would be adjusted satisfactorily Both he and Mr. K, Semple, M.P., had been in touch with the Mines Department on the matter, certain proposals in respect to which had been referred back to the Blackball Miners' union for consideration. Bunkering of Ships.

Some inquiries into the extent of the coal shortage 'were made by a Dominion reporter yesterday, when it was learned that the general situation was viewed by those in the trade with a certain degree ot apprehension. Stocks of coal have been short, iu Wellington and throughout the Dominion for some time. The epidemic in November interfered very seriously with the output, and the holidays were responsible for further restrictions. All the companies have experienced difficulties throughout the war period owing to the scarcity of skilled miners, but of late the available supplies of coal have been affected by the large number of oversea steamers which have visited the country. -Great quantities of coal have been required for bunker purposes, and this has meant a consequent reduction in the amount'available ipr -household needs. In addition, essential industries, such «s freezing works, have had to be kept going, and lighting plants have had to be supplied with sufficient 'fuel also. The fact that very little Newcastle coal is coming into the Dominion is also having an appreciable effect upon the situation. As announced in the Dominion yesterday the Government is endeavouring to remedy this state of affairs by asking the Imperial Government for the use of ships, for the carriage of coal from Australia.

"The position this , year.is as difficult as it was last year, if not worse." remarked the head of one local firm. Tho men are not turning out as much coal as they were at this time last year, and then again /there is a large number of oversea steamers coming to New Zealand, all of which have to be coaled here. .Unless a larger supply of coal is made available from Australia this year than there was last year, I do not seu how the position can improve in the very early future. In my opinion, the position will havo to bu watched very carefully. Last year the Coal Trade Committee did the .best they could for everybody,, and they will doubtless do the same this year, but their task will be just as difficult as it was in 1018. The principal trouble is the shortago of miners, but there frill be an improvement in this respect as more men return from the war.' "Something in the Wind." Another gentleman staled that one explanation of the shortage of miners was that men who had been working in the mines to escape military service were leaving. "These raon secured miners exemptions," he remarked, "and a considerable number have not returned to work." Discussing the matter further, this gentleman hinted that there was "something in thu wind," as far as Hip miners were concerned. Ho confirmed statements on Ihe point which had been made by coal merchants in Christchurch. "There is trouble brewing all right," ho added. ' What is the reason for the unrest? he was asked. , . * " ' ''There is no'reason for it at all, he replied, "except that there i= nothing hut organised unrest on the Wert Coast, which needs to he dealt with."

"Rumours of possible strikes are always with U3,"' observed the manager of anollier coal company. "I don't know whether any trouble is contemplated, but 1 may say that everyone is walchi;*;; the transport workers' dispute, and it is possible'that this may end in a strike. Should it do so, then the miners may go out in sympathy." The Wellington Gas Company has felt the shortage of coal very severely. The company -isca about 100 tons of enal per day, birt towards the end of last week the position became very serious, and it looked Hfi if the slocks on hani' w"uUl soon be exhausted. Fortunately, the Coal Trade Committee caino to the rescue, with the result that a shipment of coal was obtained;. Another cargo of Slate coal is <it present being unloaded, aad a further shipment is on order, ?o 115 apprehension w piilortiiincd at. th" moment.

Similarly, the electric lighting department and' the tramways power station have felt a Irilln anxi'.UK .■Mtnuii.r.i uinr stocks ran pretty low, their position -,\-,is not s> serious us that of I lie Gas Conipiiny, as supplies suflicicnl tor several weeks, remained in the yards. However, there is no need for alarm so fur as the city's lighting or tramway services are concerned, beeniiJ-T the fell Trade Committee is giving the matter its intention, and has already imade ■T-'-'-isi.-.ei.'Cs .

avert any immediate trouble,