"PASSIVE SYMPATHY."

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 119, 16 November 1909, Page 7

"PASSIVE SYMPATHY."

ATTITUDE OF DOMINION MINERS. WILL NOT JOIN THE MOVEMENT [BT TELEGjBAPH— TOESS ASSOCIATION^ „ AUCKLAND, 15th November. There is very little danger at present of the New Zealand cdalminers cooperating with the Newcastle men to the extent of striking. The attitude of the miners of the Dominion is one of passive sympathy— no more. These facts were made clear to a Herald representative to-day by Mr. R. Manning, general secretary of the New Zealand Miners' Federation. "The only danger of us deciding to' go out would be in the event of New Zealand mine owners attempting to ship coal to Newcastle," said Mr. Manning. "If no coal is exported from here the Dominion miners are not likely to strike. I consider there is very little possibility of any such occurrence." Mr. Manning stated that the New Zealand Federation had sent the following cable to t.hu Now South Wales Miners' Federation, signed by the president (Mr. R. Semple) and himself: —"The New Zealand Miners' Federation unanimously tenders its sympathy, and assures its financial support." It was only in the matter ot monetary assistance, which, by the way, had not yet been sought, Mr. Manning pointed out. that the New Zealand miners were prepared to give active support to the Newcastle men. Nothing was likely to be done here to hamper the New Zealand trade. . Asked us to the chance of the price of coal being raised to local consumers, Mr. Manning remarked that in the light of past experience he considered the price of coal was almost certain to go up. The very fact that Newcastle coal had to be imported into the Auckland province pointed to the likelihood of an increase now that that source of supply was cut off. In this view Mr. W. D. Holgate, managing director of the Northern Coal Company, differed from Mr. Manning. Mr. Holgate, speaking with regard to the importation of Newcastle coal, contended that there was no need for it. The New Zealand mines could supply all the demands of consumers here. They would take their coal instead of Newcastle, and it would be better for mine owners and consumers, as well as for the * New Zealand miners, if they did. In any cape there was no sign of any increase in the price of coal yet.