COAL STRIKE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23142, 14 September 1938, Page 14

COAL STRIKE

SERIOUS POSITION PUBLIC UTILITIES RESTRICTIONS LIKELY GAS AND ELECTRICITY (Eoccived Septcmbor 13, 8.40 p.m.) SYDNEY. Sept. 13 The heads of gas companies, electricity systems, railways and shipping are to meet this week tc survey the position arising out of the general strike in tho coal industry, which already has led to. dismissals in a variety of industries dependent op coal.

Gas and eleotricity restrictions are regarded as inevitable within six weeks in New South Wales and Victoria, and a curtailment of railway and shipping operations is expected within a month.

Several steamers in tho coastal trade will bo placed out of commission by tho end of this week. All coal vessels already are tied up at Sydney and Newcastle.

Notification was received by miners' officials in Sydney to-day that Now Zealand mine workers aro standing behind the strikers and will refuse to handle any coal for Australian ports. An interesting position arose to-day at the opening of the Government inquiry into safety in mines by the Royal Commissioner, Mr. Justice Davidson. Mr. C. F. Mallett, on behalf of the mino owners, objected to tho inquiry beginning, owing to the miners withdrawing from the pits, which ho described as contempt of tho Government and the community. In tho circumstances it was not possible, he argued, to bring forward technical experts or oven to inspect mines in safety. His Honor thereupon adjourned the inquiry until to-morrow. Declaring that he was shocked by the Federal Cabinet's decision not to intervene in the coal strike, the leader of the Federal Labour Opposition, Mr. J. Curtin, in an interview at Canberra to-day, said tho onus for tho misery and starvation which many workers and their dependants would suffer, and for tho dislocation of industry, was now on the Federal Government.

YORKSHIRE SUPPLIES GAS COMPANY'S PURCHASE FURTHER CARGOES LIKELY (Received Soptcmber 14, 12.15 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 13 The Melbourne Gas Company has bought a consignment of 7000 tons of Yorkshire coal, which is to be shipped in October, according to the Daily Telegraph. Negotiations for further cargoes are likely if tho Australian strike continues.