THE COAL PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18051, 27 September 1920, Page 6

THE COAL PROBLEM

SHORTAGE IN CHIUSTCHURCH.

SITUATION EXTREMELY GRAVE,

MG FIGHT PREDICTED.

(Fbom Ocm Own Cobbbspondbnt.) CmiUSTCHURCH, fcbptembar 25 1 ho promised allocation of oout iruw traxia hus not yet .been made avauaoio, and * m **«. trade say that tho dta* ?n .v w. •, P be demonstrated in a curtailment oi uio railway survit* a . lhey ciaim toat the railways in Canterbury S "°t three weeks' supply ot coal m tond. Especially sigmhoauD in this connection is the fact that tho Govermiiont i,as wJton for rail way purixees about 1000 tona oi Australian coal brought to Lyttelton at the instance of a local lirin of coal dealera in tbo Giuga Maru. Tho coal was intendod tor distribution among tue general trade aiid essential industries. Of the balanco ot tno cargo tho Christchurch tramwu-ys will tako M) tons, Uie gas company ISCO tons, lnero will bo no coal for nousfholu consumption. A mombej: of a firm, who is also chairmau of the Coal Trade Committee-, cmpuasised the sonousuess of the position to a Sun representative. Ho had been advised by a partner in Australia, he said, that unless tiie Government could arrange to altor tho position it would not bo possible to load further supplies at Newcastle for at least thrco wee Us. The vessels pnartered by his company could not load last week, or this week. New Zealand under present conditions, was absolutely dependent on supplies from Australia. Industries had a serious time ahead, and he felt suro that unless a ohango came in the Australian position tho railway services would quickly bo affected. Even now there was no coul for ohalt'cutting, steam ploughing, or hauling purposes in most country districts. He doubted if the trade in the city could muster 20 tons of hard coal for household consumption. A Japanese vessel which the firm had chartered had been unable to got coal from Newcastle, and had gone to Brisbane in the endeavour to pick up a consignment. The Australian Government had promised 50,000 tons a month to Now Zealand. To lift this with the shipping available importers should be allowed 12,500 ton 3 weekly. This was not being done. Really, New Zealand required 100,000 tons a month from Australia in order to supplement her own output. An extremely pessimistic view of the situation was taken by other men in the trade, who stated that if the nresent conditions continued, half tho industries would soon have to close down. The solution of tho difficulty rested almost entirely on tho return of the men in the mines to normal working conditions. "Thero is a great deal beneath the # surface in the pinprioking attitude tho mine workers are adopting," said a representative of a coal concern. "Certainly, none of the grievances put forward by the men, even if legitimate, would justify the adoption of the direct action now being carried on." He was giving away no secrets in stating that the Government hitherto had persuaded the owners ageiaet accepting any challenge from mine workers, but a straightout fight could not long be deferred, and when tho time came the mine owners would' faco the issue squarely. "I can't understand why the public has stood it so long without making a protest," said another man. The patience of the public would before long be exhausted, for undoubtedly further losses and inconvenience would have to be faced. A series of strikes on a small scale and the adoption 3f the "go-slow" policy could end in only way. Sooner or later there must be i big fight for a decision. In the past the nine owners had beoa dissuaded from alowing their pits to bo closed until the men realised their responsibilities. Plad a determined stand then been taken it would have been better for all concerned, and the nines would to-day have been returning a iormal output. '|There is a sohrtion to the jrouhle, a solution which America has ound," he concluded. "The output per nan in America is now higher than in any >ther country in the world, because in America there were more lockouts for a ipace in the mines than there were strikes. Che Now Zealand miners aro clearly enleavouring, by a policy of continual aggresion, to reduce the mine owners to an acceptance of the terms they wish to impose, >ut they will not succeed."

COAL FROM NEWCASTLE.

QUESTION OF SHIPMENT.

(Fbom Oub Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 26. It is not yet possible to confirm the Newcastle cablegram stating that the Commonwealth Government has completed negotiations for the sale of 100,000 tons of coal which has been lying stacked , since the strike of 1917. Negotiations for tho purchase havo been on foot, but the Prime Minister has not yet been officially advised that they havo terminated successfully. This purchase, if completed, will make am additional supply beyond the coal which the Government is already obtaining from Newcastle. Tho question of shipping for the shifting of the cargo js a problem which, however, still has to be solved.