WHERE THE COAL GOES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1913, Page 8

WHERE THE COAL GOES

IF THE STRIKE SHOULD SPREAD. Enquiry in tho city to-day showed 'that very little Huntly coal comes farther south than Palmerston North. The coal is used for" household purposes, so that big undertakings, whose demand is mainly for Bteam coal, are not likely to be affected. Westport and Newcastle coals are principally used in steamers, factories, and on the i^iilways. Large buyers of coal are baid to have anticipated trouble in tho north, and laid in supplies against an emergency. It may be neceßaary to send household oofcl to Auckland, if the strike it- of

great duration, and this would perhaps lead to sympathetic action by the West Coast miners. For such an event, it is commonly stated, preparations have been in train for some time. Both mineowners and miners have, so to speak, been sleeping in their armour ; but it is difficult to gain any definite information as to what has been done in the way of creating reserves. The Railways Department is known to have been steadily increasing its reserve supplies, but other j largo undertakings,' such as the municipal electric light department, are reticent as to their position. Replying to Sir Joseph Ward in Parliament this afternoon, the Prime Minister said he was moving in the matter of bringing about a settlement of the Huntly strike. .