COAL IMPORTS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 121, 25 May 1931, Page 10

COAL IMPORTS

MINERS PROTEST

EAILWAY STOCKS LOW

LOCAL ORDERS FALL SHORT

A protest against the importation of ' coal from Australia while the New Zealand mines arc not working full'time, ; and many miners are idle and only in- ; tcrniittently employed, was lodged by ' a deputation from the United Mineworkers' Federation and the Alliance iof Labour which waited on the Prime i Minister this afternoon. Mr. Forbes ; replied that the coal ordered was re--1 quired to .build up the Railway Depart- ' ment's reserve stocks. In introducing the deputation, Mr. 'B. M'Keen, M.P., said there were 4000 1 miners in the industry, and that they 1 were getting only two or three days' ' work a week. It was going to mean ; practically closing., many of the mines and the dismissal of the men. 1 Mr. A. M'Lagan, secretary of the federation, in protesting against the proposed importations, said there had becu serious undor-omployment of miners for some time, and less than half-time had been available to many of the men. "We fail to see why any sano Government should make coal importations when coal can be produced ■in New Zealand, "Chemical analysis had shown that Now Zealand coal wa^ better than the'imported coals. The i coal was here, and the men were willing to produce it if they were given the opportunity. Several vessels had already left for Australia for coal supplies, their total capacity being 20,696 tons, and they would all arrive back within the next week. There must be i somo reason for the Government's ac- , tion, and Mr. M'Lagan suggested that it was that the Government was assist--1 ing the employers in reducing wages ■by enabling short time to be worked. The miners were not in the habit of taking a reduction of the standard of living lying down. It seemed ,-th.at the Government's policy in the1 matter of the coal importation was actuated by antagonism to the5 workers, and that it intended to enforce low wages and to increase the already existing unemploy--1 ment. The deputation considered there was absolutely no justification for wage 1 reductions. If the .Government ap- [ proached the. question from the stand- ■ point of the welfare of the people as a whole it would bo increasing the availL able market for the country's products. Instead of that, it appeared that the Government was intent on forcing wages down to the coolie labour st-and- [ ard. The miners were prepared to do their bit to keep, the standard of living up. . . ' 'ANTICIPATING. DIRECT ACTION. '' Mr. J. Smeaton, .president of the fedl eration, said that the 4000 mine workers " were- supporting about 20,000 people. The Government had previously given ian assurance that no coal would bo im--1 ported/ Notwithstanding that, impori. tations were to be made. It appeared to ■ him that the Government was antici- ! pating that the minors would take direct ; action against the wage reductions, and ■ that it was importing coal with a view !to storing it .up against that event. The ; Government was willing to. give ample 1 protection, to wheat growers, but not to the mining industry, which could meet. aIL the requirements of the Do--1 miuion. ... Mr. J. Roberts, secretary of the Alli--1 ance of Labour, said he did not know ' where the Government, stood. It had been advising the people to buy New ; Zealand goods. By importing coal it was now in effect advising the people not. to patronise New Zealand products. If the Governrhent was. making importations for the object, suggested by Mr. M'Lagan, the- speaker suggested that 1 a much better thing would be to get the miners togther and'discuss the matter with them. The action being taken would tend towards industrial strife, the very thing the Government should try ■to avoid. He was not surprised that 1 the miners were very disturbed at what the Government was doing. It might be argued that Australian coal was required to mix with New Zealand coal for certain purposes, but he declared that all' thej Dominion's requirements could be provided-in the Dominion. He asked the Prime Minister as a matter of fairness, to the people to reconsider tho question. \ RESERVES DEPLETED. Eeplying to the deputation, the Prime . Minister (the Bight. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said that unfortunately the Minister of Bailways was out of Wel- . lington just now, but he had received a telegram from. Christchurch from him on . tho subject of the representations. Mr. Veitch said that the position was that there was nothing of a sensational character behind the decision to import coal ' from Newcastle. Recent measurement of coal in hand disclosed a shortage >of reserve coal, consequently arrauge- -■ monts were made for increased supplies from New Zealand mines producing coal . suitable for storage. Had the additional supplies arranged for,in that way been forthcoming, it would'not have been necessary to import,- but, unfortunately, for reasons unknown, to him,-New Zealand mines had not been 4ble to deliver .in sufficient quantities. coal for storage to overtake the shortage of reserve supplies. Accordingly, as a matter cf ; ordinary business prude-nee, he was compelled to place an order in Australia, otherwise a comparative return to prosperity might leave the Department with insufficient coal to carry on. "I have .no intention," said Mr. Veitch, "of departing from the policy of using New > Zealand coal on the railways, and have been prepared for some time to continue to buy all hard coal that oould be supplied in conformity with the orders that have been given in the Dominion. For example, one mine on order since April stood at 1600 tons per week, but so far the average supply has boch 775 tons per week. Another mine had a temporary order for 1595 tons per week, but its average supply since 13th April has been 720 to.us, and we have been advised by the secretary that not more than SSO tons per week could be guaranteed. A third mine has an order totalling 1020 tons per week, but tho average weekly supply has been 370 tons. Several other mines are in somewhat similar proportions. A number of mines supplying brown coal from the i Waikato and other places could increase - their supplies, but as the sphere of its L consumption is limited, and as it i 1; not suitablo for storage it can only be purchased as fast as dt is consumed." ! "ONLY PRUDENT BUSINESS." > Mr. Forbes said that the Department , had to maintain reserve supplies in ca.se -of emergency, and tho more wild talk ■ was indulged in about direct action the - more necessity there was to have re- ! serves. The railways had always had s reserves, but lately they had fallen i much lower than they should bo. Mr. M'Lagan declared that all tho hard coal mines had been working slack time. Ho denied the statement that tho New Zealand mines could not produce sufficient hard coal. Mr. Sineaton: "The statement is certainly contrary to fact." Mr. Forbes replied that Mr. Veitch would be able to make a statement as ito tho position when he returned to • Wellington. He was informed that the j coal most suitable for storage was Aus- > tralian coal. Mr. M'Lagan: "During the last

twelve months the New Zealand mines could have given you all the reserves you wanted. The Prime Minister said he did not want to import coal unnecessarily. The present Government had done more in the way of buying New Zealand coal than any other Government had done. Only on occasions such as the present, when reserves were running down, were importations made, and when the statement was being made that something was likely to happen naturally the Department got alarmed. Tho procedure being followed was only prudent business, and there was no special significance in it. ■ Mr. Roberts: "The matter calls for immediate investigation as to whether the mines can supply the coal." Mr. Forbes said that iirst of all tho Minister of Railways would make a statement. In conclusion, ho declared that the quantity of coal ordered from Australia was not the quantity mentioned by Mr. M'Lagan.