COAL DISPUTE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1929, Page 7

COAL DISPUTE

NEW DEVELOPMENT. DECISION OF DRIVERS AND FIREMEN. UNITED ACTION AIMED AT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). SYDNEY, June 9. There is a new crisis in the coal industry. Engine drivers and firemen employed on the northern mines outside the associated collieries to-day decided to cease work on Wednesday, and a meeting of their State council on Wednesday will pass a resolution callling upon all drivers and firemen in the southern and western collieries to cease work.

An attempt will also be made to induce similar action in Victoria.

COLLIERY BEING PICKETED. STRONG POLICE FORCE STATIONED. NEWCASTLE, June 9. The approaches to nearly every colliery on tho northern fields will bo picketed by thousands of miners tomorrow morning unless members of the Colliery staffs’ Association decide to discontinue handling coal. The miners are reported to bo determined to prevent the winning of coal in any closed pits. Strong bodies of police have been stationed at the mines in case of emergency. Mr H. H. Sterling, General Manager of the New Zealand Railways Department, after a visit to Newcastle stated: “If I were looking for coal contracts Newcastle would be the_ last place I would come.” Mr Sterling’s visit was one purely of railway instruction and had no association with coal matters.

SYDNEY’S GAS SUPPLY AFFECTED

SYDNEY, June 9

A shortage of good quality coal is beginning to affect Sydney’s gas supply. This was evident yesterday, when tho gas source failed throughout the Metropolitan area. As a result of the stoppage of the northern mines the company’s usual supply of coal was cut off, and that which they are now handling will not produce sufficient gas to meet requirements.