THE COAL STRIKE

Evening Star, Issue 16398, 14 April 1917, Page 2

THE COAL STRIKE

MINISTERS’ VISIT TO THE MIXES

Sir James Allen, Acting Prime Minister and the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, Minister of Mines, left Christchurch yesterday for the West Coast,

When asked what his plans wore and whether hj to address meetings ot miners, Sir Janies Allen stated that he wao not in. a position lo answer the question. Xo definite plans had been prepared °thcr than that they intended to leave no fi tone unturned to help the miners to reach a right state of mind and go back to work. Their course of action would iT shaped on arrival. Possibly they would proceed to Westport early tho followin'' day. APPEAL TO AUSTRALIA. A Press Association cablegram from Sydney states that the secretary of tho Australasian Coal and Shale Employees’ Federation has sent a circular to the lodges ox pressing sympathy with the Xew Zealand miners, and asking trade unionists to stand behind and support their follow“workers. The secretary, referring to tho remarks passed at the Labor Council, states that unless an attempt is made to supply Xow Zealand with coal from Australia there is no hkebliood of the trouble extendin'' to Australia. The now council of tho Federation will meet on Tuesday to consider tho effect on Australia. EFFECT OX MARKET. PRICE OF COAL IXCREASED. [Srr.ciAL to the ‘Star.’] rni r . CHRISTCHURCH, April 14. the Coal Merchants’ Association held a meeting m connection with the coal strike and its effect on the Christchurch market Information waa received that tho different c at companies had advanced the prices of coal to merchants on the last shipments ot coal made before the strike by & a ton and it was decided to advance the price o coal to the public by 2s a ton from Monday next, the secretary of the association states that this increase is simply passed on as the exact amount charged to b M| by IIW l l W c ' oal , companies, and applies to all coal except Australian coal. Tb* price of coke to the coal merchants his teen advanced by 2* 6d a ton by the Chi istohurcli Gas Company.