COAL MINERS' STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16980, 17 April 1917, Page 5

COAL MINERS' STRIKE

MINISTERS AT WORK. % MINING CENTRES "VISITED. , , . (Pjeb United Pbess Association ) WESTPORT, April 16. Sir James Allen and the Hon. W. D.- 8. * Mac Donald (Minister of Mines) to-day visited the. colliery townships of Denmston, , Granity, and Ngakawau in connection with, * the miners' strike. HOMES FOR WIVES AND CHILDREN. OFFER FROM CHRISTCHORCH. (Peb United Press ABSocranoii} CHRISTCHURCH, April 16, v> A big meeting of Labour supporters last c night discussed the : municipal elections'from the Labour outlook. Reference was \ made by Messrs Webb and M'Combß," k M.P.'s, to the miners on the Coast. ' * The meeting unanimously resolved—*,*■' "That this meeting of Christcburch citizens' « send their greetings to the miners on strike, £ and offer homes to their wives and children J if they send them over." a It was stated that arrangements were m hand to house 1000 women and children if' < necessary. ■ ■, COAL FOR THE RAH.WAYS. < SERIOUS SHORTAGE ■ THREATENED. \ (Feom Odb Own Cobbkspondeht ) J* , WELLINGTON, April 16. i Users of the railways were very much x shocked when the department. announced ?, its recent scheme of curtaiknent of services, (,-> but unless the mission of the two Ministers » who are now on the West Coast trying to "* induce the rninera to. go back to work in % tho coal mines is successful, a very nmch r J greater reduction in services will have to r1 bo made. The change will have to be made r at short notice, but probably notice of ono '| week will be given. ■» In the scheme already announced {he >/ Government ,did not propose to cut down the goods traffic, but if a. further reduo- J tion in the services has to be' made the "-J goods trains will have to be reduced. An $1 effort will be made to carry all essential ( commodities, but other goods inay on ocean i*< sion be shut out. There will be no delay "t for the preparation of the new time-tables, %/i because the arrangements were all madai at Christmas, when the general stake dan- y; ger was regarded as a real one. ADDRESSES TO THE MEN. *1 SECRET BALLOT TO BE TAKEN. i (Peb United Pbess Assoaunok.) ~j m WESTPORT, April 16. | The Acting Prime Minister and the A Minister of Mines addressed the iruners at ■* Millerton, Stockton, and Denniston to-day, t] putting, it is understood, the position •> 4 plainly before The press was not 33 admitted. "*j The Ministers returned to Westport this % evening, and'will leave on a visit to Grey- I mouth m the morning. "" It is intended on Thursday to take a. ' secret ballot of the miners in the Buller j district oh the question of resuming work. STRIKE AT WAIPA. FURTHER TROUBLE PROBABLE. (Peb United Pbess Association) AUCKLAND, April 16. Information was received in Auckland to- ' % night that the coal miners employed at the Waipa collieries, near Ngaruawahia, went out on strike this morning. Thtro are be- -> .tween 150 and 200 men "in the employ of " the company.' Tho men employed' by the Taupm mines and by the Pukemiro collieries held on ' important meeting to-night, the result of which has not yet transpired. It is expected, however, that the men working in this group of mines. at Huntly may go out on strike to-morrow. The Taupm Company employs over 350 men, and the Pukemiro Company from 180 to 200. So far as can be ascertained, the men concerned -have not given .any reason for their action, and the only motive that can be assigned to them is their opposition to conscription. It is hoped that, further trouble may be i * averted i>y on early settlement oi the strike * of the West Coast miners by the Acting v Prime Minister and Mr Mac Donald.