GOAL DEADLOCK

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10507, 7 February 1920, Page 7

GOAL DEADLOCK

TELEGRAM TO PRIME (MINISTER. THE POSITION SERIOUS. . In response to tlie telegram forwarded by Air Massey to. the message received from Mr J. TI. Gunson (Mayor of Auckland), who proposed the ’sotting up of a special tribunal .to. deal, with the coal mines deadlock, the; following has been received by the Primo Minister;—“The chief concern, in Auckland, at any rate, is that the dispute should- be settled. Therefore,, in . view of "tho position, I ventured to make the suggestions, submitted to yon by telegram. The most serious aspect, as far as Auckland is concerned, is not the tramway, ‘cut,’ but the ...position which immediately threatens industries generally, of which many are already severely suffering. j “With regard to the. concluding portion of' your telegram, if an immediate settlement is not possible between the owners and ’the miners. in accordance with past practice, ‘ 1 think something should" bo undertaken ' immediaffely in accordance with .the suggestions I, submitted. Such a tribunal could deal with the position on tho lines of tho views expressed in the concluding portion of. your telegram, as, obviously, any tribunal must consider the position from the standpoint of local conditions, as the , same vary considerably, but substantially, tho main conditions are not dissimilar. I trust you'will be able to announce a settlement without delay.’*

AUCKLAND HARBOUR BOARD’S DIFFICULTIES. WORKS MAY CEASE. ■ - , The coal position so far as ..it affects the Auckland Harbour Board is a serious one. Of the latti consignment of. 500 tons the bdard have only 37 tons in hand. - ‘Reporting on the position at tho meeting of the board, the chairman Mr H. D. Heather, declared that it was becoming acute. “Unless further supplies are obtained,” bo continued, “and if the city electric power is cut off from 'tho wharves,, our lights and cranes will bo useless, and tho works on the waterfront will have to stop. That such a situation is possible is borne out by tho statement made by the Mayor, to the effect that a complete .stoppage was threatened at the electrical station last week.” The board’s engineer, Mr H. W. Hamer, in his ..progress., report, mentioned that stock supplies of coal, were down and that there appeared to bo a likelihood of suspending some works if further supply was not soon to hand. Mr Hamer added that the price of cement had .been, increased Os n,ton,, and that under ..the distribution scheme now in force it looked as if the board’s works might be temporarily stopped. ,