LACK OF SHIPPING

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 November 1938, Page 2

LACK OF SHIPPING

COAST MINES AFFECTED. The ten days’ hold-up on the Auckland Avaterfront, in connection Avith the watersiders’ strike is having its reflection on some of the Grey district, coal mines. Avhich are threatened Avith loss of Avorking time, through lack of shipping facilities. The vessel chiefly concerned is the Union Company’s collier. Kaimiro, which Avas due last Aveek to load a large cargo of coal for Wellington. She Avas in Auckland for the duration of the strike, and consequently fell behind her schedule. She is now due next Wednesday, November 23, but it is doubtful Avhether some of the mines, principally Wallsend, can keep Avorking until she relieves the stocks of coal.

Although they could not give a definite statement, owing to the likelihood of last, minute orders relieving the situation, officials at the Wallsend mine stated this afternoon, that there seemed every possibility that the mine, would close for several days ’at. 5 o’clock this afternoon. If it eventuated, as up to the time the “Star” went to press seemed inevitable, the stoppage would be due entirely to the delay to the Kaimiro. It is understood that the Dobson and Briandale mines are also affected by the delay to,' the Kaimiro, but the Dobson mine reported this afternoon that it still had hoppers available, and would work tomorrow. The State and Blackball mines are not affected,' in the meantime.

As soon as it was known that the Kaimiro would be delayed at Auckland, efforts were made to find a substitute vessel to take her coal loading at. Greymouth, as had been done in the past, but on this occasion it wa! found impossible, as, owing to the shipping company’s policy of making loadings 14 to 21 days in advance, there were no vessels available. Some, which may have been diverted to Greymouth, under normal conditions, had been delayed at various points around the coast, as the result of bad weather.