REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF COAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2417, 21 September 1868, Page 3

REDUCTION IN THE PRICE OF COAL.

♦ — (From the Newcastle Chronicle, Sept. 1.) Considerable agitation lias been created in Newcastle and its surrounding collieries by nil the coal companies (with the exception of Larabton) having yesterday reduced the price of our great staple from 10s to 89 9d per ton. This fall in price is said to hare been occasioned by the Lambtou Colliery (known abroad as the Scottish Australian Company), whose agents at Sydney are Messrs Morehead and Young, having taken the initiative, and reduced the price to 9s per ton. The reason for this movement on the part of the Lambton Colliery is, so far as it is publicly known, a falling off in the demand for their coal, in comparison to the large trade they have hitherto done. It is stated, without reserve, that the Lambton Colliery proprietors hare, in thus reducing the price of this port, violated a specific agreement betwixt themselves aud the other colliery proprietors of Newcastle and its district. It is anticipated by those interested in the coal trade of this port, that before the present week is out the price will have bei-n still further reduced to 7s 6rf per ton, unless, indeed, the managers of the Lambton Colliery shall awaken to a sense of their suicida) policy, and return to the legitimate charge of 10s per ton for their coal, when, it is freely asserted, all the other companies will instantly follow. We regret the present movement as one pregnant with most disastrous results to this city and district, and for these simple and evident reasons First, when it is known abroad that the-price of coal is reduced here, it will be very difficult to raise it again; secondly, the final loss must inevitably fall on the miners. Beyond this point we fear to look at present. It would be a very great calamity to Newcastle should a general strike result from this movement. At present no such misfortune is anticipated, but when the relationship of a large body of men with their employers and with their work is once disturbed, it is impossible to tee the end—events may carry the control out of the hands of the employers and employed. For these reasons we earnestly hope all parties concerned will pause in time, and appreciate the dreadful consequences of the unhinging of our mining relationships before it be too late. We may just add, tiiat there is no occasion whatever for any reduction in the price of coal at this port, and that the fall will only have the effect of a firebrand in our midst. Later in the day (yesterday) than the foregoing remarks wore written, a rumour was current in town that a ''strike" had actually occurred at the Lambton Colliery, in consequence of the reduction alluded to. From inquiries madehowever,wearehappy tostatethat we believe the report in question to have been without foundation. Some little unpleasantness, it appears did take place at the Lambton Colliery yesterday morning, but the affair was a much smaller one than rumour, with its thousand tongues, had made it out to be. It seems that on going to work, some of the boys employed in the colliery had a row with some of the men, the latter complaining that some of the boys had failed to do certain work which it was their duty to do. Hie upshot was that between forty and fifty of the men came out of the pit, refusing to do any more work until the mattir had been adjusted. These parties were told by MrCroudace that if they came out then, the need not go to work again. This was how matters stood when our informant left Lumhton. From another source we learn that a meeting of the miners employed in the Lamb-; ton Colliery was to be held last evening, to take the decision of MrCroudace into consideration ; but, ko far as we can ascertain, the proposed meeting was not intended to have the slightest reference to the above-mentioned rupture between the different collieries, as regards the reduction in the price of coal.