THE COAL CRISIS

Evening Star, Issue 17086, 3 July 1919, Page 7

THE COAL CRISIS

GE3SERAL MANAGER OF RAILWAYS ON THE POSITION. A FRANK STATEMENT. fPxa United Peess Association-] WELLINGTON, July 2. M* R. W. M'Villy, General Manager of Railways, was invited by the- conference of local bodies and the Chamber of Commerce in Wellington Province to make a statement in explanation of the measure* adopted l by the department- to economise coal. ' Mr M'Villy said that what bad led to the curtailment of the services was the great reduction in the reserve stock of rail•way coal, which in 1915 was 80.000 ton*, but to-day was only 11,000. The total coal in *>igbt between now and the middle of August was 80,000 tona. When he taH them Tinder the man-saving timetable of last year that 5,000 to 6,000 tans per week were being burned they could eea tow long the department cculd have contamied to run a full time-table with 11,000 tons of coal. He continued that in 14 days' time at the most we should probably have found oitrwlves without airy trams at all, so them'was only one Hang; to do, and 1 that was to take _ our courage in both hands and cut the timetable. Immediately the department could gee a (reasonable supply of coal in sight it would be oiidy too glad to remove the reSfcriotiona as "far as it could, but at the present moment they were at bedrock. The department ha:' exhausted every possible means of obi.lining coal, and had been doing that few the last three years. The coal supply had been one of the most difflouft questions the department had to deal jFith since 1914. The position beinic as;-It" was, the next thing the department *had to do was to consider how it could best serve the- whole community under the restricted time-table, and the first- coursed eration was the feedius of tiie people in the baekblocks. Tiie" pte.-rent timetable was not brought into operation hur- ; liedly. The department had it pigeonholed practically since 1917. The restriction placed on the conveyance of materials wae not one the department was desirous of imposing if it could be shown that the removal of it would not inflict hinhliip. He should be very pleased to discuss details with one or two gentlemen the conference would appoint Mr. M'Villy said he re.hwd that the present crisis meant a- lot of unemployment, but there was only a very meagre supply of coal in stock, and an extremely meagre supply in sight. Mr M'Vil'ey stated that the appointment of a-commercial agent- under the Railway Department would be considered at a comparatively early date. The conference appointed a committee to confer with the Railway Department', from time to time regarding th« difficulties arising out of the new regulations. LABOR CRITICAL. [Feom Otjr Special Coerespondbnt.] WELLINGTON". July 2. ! A very general opinion in Lahor circles Ja that there is a sinister influence behind the action of" the Government in connection frith the drnfitdc railway nirtaUment. 'lt 's. emphasised that if the conservation of coal is a first necessity other methods-than that of drastic railway curtailment are possible, with less serious effects on the country's business. _ Industrial stagnation is certain immediately if the Government pursue tht-ir presentpolicy. It is hinted that the miners' thtaands for improved conditions and wag3s have had seme influence on the Government. The decision has given general dissatisfaction »n manufacturing and business circles. The conference of the Federation of Labor discussed the Board of Trade's ivfort on the coal industry to-day. Strong opposition was expressed" to the pureha.-.e ot all the coal mines by the State, including those which are losing money ar.rl without the prospect of *wer becoming ' payable' propositions. The opinion at the conference was in favor of the discriminate purchase of some of the existing mines. together with the immediate national development of coal-bearing areas. The following motion was carried':—"That this conference declare that the only .solution. of the coal problem is the p>u'olic ownership and control of mining, transpoitaiion, and distribution of coal, with adequate representation of the workers on » board or boards of control. They therefore condemn the proposals for the private control of the mining iudusiiy with a State guarantee of dividends to private shareholders, embodied in the Board of Trade report."

LTTTELTON WATERSID EK 8. CHIUSTCKERCH July 2. A meeting of the Lytteltcn waterside i irerkeTS was held to-day to consider the alterations in the train service. It was decided, as a prot">t against the rotting out ot the 'J. 15 p.m. train, to Dhristchuxch on Saturdays that the men ! would not work after 6 o'clock each cveri;„rr "ntil the 9.15 p.m. train was reinstated. .i lurther pretest was made against the Railway Department meeting the demand of the "Chamber of" Commerce by agreeing to run the train each evening with the i exception of Sa'tirday. as Saturday night was the only night on which the men cctild jonxnpy to Ghristehurch, and they considered it was onlv fair that the men . should have a holiday durhvg the week. About a week ago Ih? workers, decided that work on the waterfront should cense on Saturdavs at 5_ o'clock It was also decided at to-dnv's meeting that -work on the waterfront should cease. at noon, on Saturdays. MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS ' ALARMED. CHRISTCHURCH, July 2. A deputation from the Canterbury In- j dvstrial Association waited on the 3 lay or [ to day regarding the effect of curtailed ! railway services on the industries of tlu j city. j The deputation asked Dr Thacked to cab j a..public meeting immediately to cousid'--r J the cutting out of the goods trains. P. j was stated that the practical suspension of j goods trains would absolutely paralyse th-j i industries of the city, and would really i amount to a lockout placed on the con-- { Enmity by the Railway This I would involve the wiping out ot the whoje weekly wage bill of some thousands of jrorkers. Dr Thacker agreed to call a meeting tomorrow. In view of the serious effect which the Railway Department's decision not to camtimber will have on the erection of soldiers' homea, thereby putting settlement fcack at leass a year, a public meeting is to be held' to see it the department cannot be persuaded l-o alter the regulation. DELIVERING THE 31 AILS. CHEISTCHURC'FI, July 2. In -view of the cut in railway services, soma districts being completely isolated, the Canterbury Progress League, in con-1 junction with" the _• Press' and 'Times') Newspaper Companies, have arranged for complete daily mail services for North