"BREAKING STRAIN."

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18304, 14 January 1920, Page 6

"BREAKING STRAIN."

THE COAL SITUATION,

SERIOUS SHORTAGE IN CITY. INDUSTRIES AFFECTED. " There is no doubt in my mind that we have got to the breaking strain now," said a leading Christchurch business man yesterday, discussing the coal situation and the effects of the miners' go-slow policy. A " Lyttelton Times'" reporter ascertained that the shortage is causing alarm in various trade circles, that stocks in the majority of city yards are lower than they have been for many months, and that the threshing season is likely to bo seriously affected. In Christchurch householders have grave difficulty in securing even moderate supplies. At the State coal office no orders are being taken for coal, all supplies having been sold out. "I consider the only possible solution of the difficulty," eaid the business man, " is for the mine-owners to shut up all their mines-and so bring the men to their bearings. What good can be obtained by tiie workers going slow when the very life of the country is at stake: 1 If the owners fail to close down, then the Government should immediately take the strongest measures, perhaps by having the mines worked every* other day, so that the present output would be maintained, or the miners would find themselves the losers. With the mines closed altogether, other industries would quickly be? compelled to follow suit. Well, would it not be better for every employer right throughout New Zealand to make a bis sweep and clean this thing up altogether, because it can't go on for ever? The trouble.,with the miners is that they no sooner get higher wages than they decrease the amount of work. Surely the time has arrived when serious-thinking and fair-minded working men should acknowledge that the miner has gone over the mark, that he has 'been supported long enough with strike pay by other unions, and that his day as the disturbing factor in labour matters throughout the country is finished. In tho shortage now being experienced, who gets hit first but tho working man, and it is high time that he awoke to the true state of affairs."

Mr Denys Hoare, secretary of the Christchurch Coal Distribution Committee, said that extreme difficulty was being experienced in filling even partially the orders of various industries. Tht> Kanna was expected from Wellington next day with the balance of her cargo, and tho Koromiko was to arrive that day with about 2000 ton 3. The Kama, which also carried coal, had been ordered on to Timaru. Questioned on the report that there were large quantities available at Greymouth and Westport but that no ships could be spared, Mr Hoare said that a newspaper message to the effect that the Ngatoro, owing to the shortage of coal at Groymouth, had been dispatched to Newcastle, conveyed a different impression.

A Christchurch cement dealer said that the great shortage of cejnent was simply due to lack of coal, and there would be no improvement until the Government took a firm stand with the miners. The whole position turned on that. Cement was cheap stuff and would not stand heavy expense. The proposal to import from England was ridiculous, because tho freight charge alone was more/than the retail price in New Zealand. To make cement lignite was required to burn the limestone, and then good coal was reauired at the final stage. The' cement companies found it more than difficult to get either, and as a result, of the five concerns in New Zealand, two were not working and the other three were only going tor a fraction of their ordinary time, all through the shortage of coal. In normal times the cement companies could always turn out more than was required.

THE GO-SLOW POLICY. Word received in Christchurch since the resumption of work in the mines after the holidays shows that the same rate of production is being maintained without any further slowing of the old "go-slow" policy. Negotiations are continuing for a settlement, but they have not reached a definite stage.

SHORTAGE IN PALMERSTON NORTH. N (Per Press Association.) PALMERSTON NORTH, January 13. The shortage of coal at present in. Pf.lmerston North bas developed into* a state in which supplies are nonexistent. Some dealers have had n-» coal since the end of 1919, and none is in sight. The only coal which may ar* rive is for essential industries. The shortage of cement is very A neeting of master builders yesterday* was intormed by the agents of the .cement companies that unless the coat required for burning cement was supplied, there was no hope of keeping the works going. At present there is no cement on hand and there are no prospects of making any. It was decided to ' send the following telegram to the Prime Minister:—"A meeting of local builders decided that, owing to the shortage of cement, it will be necessary to close the wholo of the contracts .within t,v.'p wcriks. This Will affect at least ' GOu men. Tho hospital and school work* have not a fortnight's supply. Can nothing bo done?" MR MASSEY UNABLE TO VISIT WESTPORT. (Per Prkss Association.) WELLINGTON, January 13. Mr Massey has been invited to go to Westport to investigate the difficulties oaused by the coal shortage and other matters, but states that he is unable to go at present, owing to urgent business requiring his attention in Wellington. THE HTJNTLY MINERS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 13. A report received from Huntly state's that tho Huntly Miners' Union is reported to have earned a resolution calling upon the Miners' Federation to withdraw from the Alliance of Labour so that each union could .then make individual agreements with the respective mine-owners. The resolution suggested that tho federation should have one representative at each conference with the owners. It is stated that only ft fow men voted against the resolution.