VERY SERIOUS POSITION

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 47, 24 August 1920, Page 7

VERY SERIOUS POSITION

NO TRAMS, NO LIGHT, NO POWER, ■ ■■ -'NO .GASVv ::.,-;:\

MANY- FACTORIES CLOSE. DOWN" •■'

SITUATION DISCUSSED BY THE CITY* COUNCIL

Wellington now knows what it means to be without coal, and the people realise as, perhaps; they have never done before, what an essential commodity coal really is, and how, without it, the "wheels of industry" must stop, the trams cease running, and the lights fail. Tor-day the position is worse than it was yesterday.' The Gas Company was compelled to cut oil the gas supply at halfpast eight last evening, but users of electric light nert more fortunate. The latter found that current was available until daybreak to-day. The supply of gas and electricity for power purposes has had the serious effect of throw-, ing hundreds of people out of work. No trams have been runningVto-day, nor are any likely to run, for the council's coal has dwindled down to about 50 tons, and the power is_ being conserved as. much as possible in order that domestic Mghting might be permitted this evening. . " '' . The position on the waterfront to-day is no better than it was yesterday. Something like 800 men attended at the usual, hour this morning. Two calls were made for ' men to work the phosphate-laden Japanese boat Meikai Maru, but no men responded. The shipowners therefore adhered to their attitude not to engage any fresh labour. Two gangs were placed on the Moeraki for the purpose of discharging perishable cargo. One gang of men removed fruit from the Nelson boat, but many other boats are held up, including the all-important coal carriers mentioned in The Post last night. No attempt has been made to engage labour for the colliers. Nothing has come of the Water"side Workers' Union's offer to unload coal for the City Council and the • Gas Company. It seems doubtful whether it would be possible for the union to make such arrangements. The present position was discussed r at a special meeting of the; ■City Council 'this morning. Although various suggestions were offered, no decision was arrived at. There was a distinct difference of opinion as to who was to blame, and some of the councillors supported the employers, asserting'that "a> great principle was. at stake." Of course, the Labour members found themselves at variance ■with the remainder of the councillors. In the end the council adjourned until 4 o'clock this afternoon, the hope being expressed that by then there would be a favourable turn in events.