COAL MINERS' STRIKE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16981, 18 April 1917, Page 4

COAL MINERS' STRIKE

MINISTERS AT BLACKBALL. WAIPA MEN RESUME WORK. SECRET BALLOT TO BE TAKEN. (Peb United Phesb Association.) . . GREYMOUTH, April 17. J. no Ministers were in conference with tlio Blackball miuers to-nigut, and they are not expected to arrive in Greymouth till late. . .AUCKLAND, April 17. ino Waipa miners returned to work to- ■ day. lney will take a secret ballot tonight or to-morrow on a point in respect to which the utmost secrecy is being mainFEDERATION OF LABOUR, MESSAGE TO SIR, JAMES ALLEN. (Peb Unitbd Press Association.) OHRISTCHURCH, April 1?. Ine following telegram was sent to-day to the Acting Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) by Mr Hiram Hunter, national secretary ot the United Federation oi Labour:— lne United Federation of Labour is of opinion that the miners who are striking against the Conscription Act are expressing the attitude of organised Labour tarouSTout Australasia towards eonscniDtion, and it the Government is desirous of obtaining industrial peace it should immediately suspend the operations of the Military Service .act and secure recruits voluntarily by tax-' mg wealth, and thus provide the money to pay adequate remuneration to soldiers, with, increased,pensions and allowances to them and their dependents by right." MASS MEETINGS SUGGESTED. (Pne Uiuxjso -Vitas Associatioh.) Th« TT f «u NAPIE B. April 17. The Hastings Chamber of Commerce tonight, alter discussing the seriousness of the industrial unrest, at present manilesting itsel in the coal-mming districts in New Zealand passed the lohowing resolution:—' . lnis chamber suggests that mass meetings bo held m all centres to give an expression ot public opinion on the action of men in reeorting to the strike weapon during the crisis m the war for democracy and individual liberty, and feels confident that the better sense of. tho people of' the dominion expressed at such mass meetings, "' will lead the strikers.to realise the seriousness of their action and return to work." » CONSERVING COAL* SUPPLIES. PROPOSALS BY WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL. " (Fbom Ode Own Cobeespondent.) - WJELLINGTQN, April 17 I:, order to save coal the City Council wft be asked to consider at its next meeting proposals for tho curtailment of the tram - services and a considerable reduction in street lighting. The Mayor made a statement as to the general effect of the proposals to a reporter. ■• Our most important proposal," said Mr ' t fu to curcall coiwiflerably the running of the trains during the slack hours ol tne day and evening. There will not be so many late trams. If the Sunday services are continued they will be very much curtailed, and double lares will be cliartred lnere is a difference of opinion ■• as to" whether or not Sunday trams should stop altogether. We shall have to ask the people to help us with tne reduction of services. One of our difficulties in running tne tramway eervice is that of 'peak' loads at tne rush hours of the day. ihese 'peak , loads add very much to our consumption of fuel, ior so long as we have to carry them wo have to keep all our machinery available and prepared to supply current at the maximum capacity for an hour or two in the morning when the people are going to work, and again in the evening when they are "returning to their homes It is suggested-that we should appeal to somo of the people who can arrange to do S r ,-f S ? tO r w ° rk , at 7 a.m.-in order to distribute the load on the service, and so help us out of this difficulty of ' peak' loaas. If certain industries can arrange to begin the working day at 7.30 a.m we-shall be able to cope with the traffic with a reduced number of trams. In lighting also •i i't S , P ro P° se< i tnat considerable savings shall bo mndc. Some of the very .large aro lamps, which are now lij-htxruj up certain areas will be cut out for the time being and very limited lighting will be prol vided after midnight. t • . THE FERRY SERVICE. MAORI LAID UP. lne. shortage of coal, owing to the strike, necessitates a change in tho ferrv service. The Maori crossed over from Lyttolton last night, and will be laid up at Wellington till further notice. Tho 'Mararoa did ,not come south last night,. her place being taken by another steamer, which will also do the return journey from Lyttelton to Wellington tonight. The Mararoa will take up the Maori's running, leaving Wellington for" Lyttelton to-night, and her own place will he taken by the.Pateena, which will leave Wellington fo r Lyttelton on Thursday night The Mapourika, which was laid up at Wellington, will take the Pateena's place in the Wellington-Picton-Nelson service. MINISTER QF MUNITIONS INTER- . VIEWED. The Hon. A. M Myers,' as Minister-in- ; Charge of matters connected with the distribution of coal, was waited upon by the members of the Ohxistchurch Advisory Board set up in connection with tho board in Wellingotn established to advise the Minster oa the same matter. The members of the Christchurch Board discussed with the Minister various matters arising out; of the present situation. Ihe proceedings were not open to the pres* •Subsequently Mr Myers informed a representative of The Press that for some time past he had been obtaining information as to the etocks of coal held by various industries throughout the dominion, and this would enable "him to act promptly in tho event of tho present situation developing in such a way as to justify action. In view of tho fact that the Acting Prime . Minister (Sir James Allen), and the Minister of Mines (the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald) were at present on the West Coast dealing with, tho industrial trouble Mr' Myers did not think it desirablo to 'make any further public statement, except to express the hope that, in view of the facts that coal was essential in order that tlio reinforcements could be despatched and food for the troops and tho people of tho • United Kingdom could be conveyed, and that coal was needed for essential industries and for domestic use, ho trusted that the cos.l miners would' realise the gravity of their responsibilities, and act up to tho highest and best traditions of tho workers of tho dominion and do their shart in the hour of stress.