THE COAL STRIKE RUMOURS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VIII, Issue 51, 12 February 1918, Page 2

THE COAL STRIKE RUMOURS.

WESTPORT COMPANY’S VIEW.

In connection with the rumour from Christchurch and Wellington of a West Coast strike, the Westport Coal Company informed a Dunedin “Star” reporter on Saturday morning that so far as that company were -concerned, they had heard nothing in regard to any contemplated strike on the part of the miners. The Westport Coal Company’s mines were working satisfactorily, and the only thing which the local officials knew of the matter was what they read in ■ the •newspapers. With regard to the supplies of coal, these had been very scarce for a long time past. This was in a large measure due to the scarcity of skilled miners and labour generally, owing! to such a large number of men leav-1 ing the West Coast to ga on active service. The result was that the out-1 put of coal from the various coal- ‘ mines had been reduced consider-j ably. The importations from Newcastle, upon which the Dominion has j had to depend to supplement local supplies, are not coming to hand so freely owing to the difficulty experienced in securing sufficient shipping to bring the supplies across the Tasman Sea. As a result of these conditions the railways and other users have been unable to store coal, and it is highly improbable that they are in the nappy position of having large stocks in hand at the present time.

In view of the alarmist statements published in Christchurch regarding the possibility of a strike of West Coast miners in the event of exemption from military service not being granted to Mr. P. C. Webb, M.P., a Post reporter who made enquiries of representatives of the Coal-Mine Owners’ Association in Wellington learned that they had no information whatever which would lead them to anticipate trouble in the mines.