AUSTRALIAN COAL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 33, 7 August 1931, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN COAL

REASON FOE IMPOSTS

TROUBLE ON,WEST COAST

ADVICE TO MR.' HOLLAND

The assertion that the continual interruption of mining activities on tho West Coast had been responsible for the importations of Australian coal was made in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by the Minister of Transport (the Hon. W. A. Veitch) during the course of his speech on' the Budget debate. Ho urged the Leaders of Labour to uso .their influence to stabilise conditions on the West Coast and so bring down the price of coal to the consumer. > * ,•-<;•<--' "Is the Labour Party taking "its instructions from New' South" Wales or Moscow?" asked Mr. Vlaitch.,' ' Mr. W,. L. Martin (Labour, Eaglan): "That is unworthy of 'you. V{ A Labour member: "Yes'it is*" Mr. Veitch said that the Railway Department had been criticised' Somewhat severely for -purchasing " v , 40,000 tons of coal from New South' Wales; but it had' been compelled to do this in view of the disturbances on the West Coast, i There was one course 'open to the Leader of the Labour Party and that was to make an effort to prevent difficulties in the future. The Leader of the Labour Party/Mr. H. E. Holland): "I am prepared.to'take that course by voting the, Government out." , '-.V Mr. Veitch saia that the chief.difficulty on the West Coast was the lack of continuity of service by those 1* engaged in the coal mining industry",'tho heavy expenses involved through the workers shopping work without notice.or reasonable justification.' r It cost'the ..State Mines Department something like; £300 per day in .overhead expenses ,1- eyery time the men stopped work, and 'that naturally increased the cost of coal to tho public. .-One,of tho main, causes of the trouble seemed'to be t a ■ dispute between tho mining leaders, and ,tbey had skilfully transferred it.to the watersiders who worked in Westport for'"the Railway Department. The'"result of the hold-up had been that the people of Mr. Holland's electorate had suffered; '."I suggest to the' Leader 'of the Labour Party," said Mr. Veitch, "that he should endeavour to hold" a confer* enceof the miners with a view to their settling their differences. If he did that he would not only confer a benefit on the people of his electorate, but also on. the people of New Zealand.,. *>If he ur d his undoubted plati'orm' eloquence and ability as a leader to influence the miners against the' destruction" <J£ .the coal mining industry on the;West,Coast I am sure that he would'do "a tremendous amount of good.' u ';j* yfi ''; Mr. Veitch said that unlesVthe'cost of mining on the West Coast "was reduced, there would be a- continuation of imports from Australia^'andi as a result the effect on' the mmmg -.industry would be serious indeed. - ( It had been contended that,the'' Government should place a higher import', 'duty on Australian coal, but before this could be dpne the disputes on the"'West,Coast would t have to end,, and .there;,would have to be a guarantee that the service would, be continuous and" that costs would bo reduced in a rational way. If this assurance was given, then the Government could consider the question. It was only fair to state that the trouble did not seem to have spread to oher mining districts in the Dominion.