THE COAL CRISIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18052, 28 September 1920, Page 5

THE COAL CRISIS

PUKEMIRO COLLIERIES IDLE.

ENGINE-DRIVERS ON STRIKE.

COAL SHORTAGE IN AUCKLAND,

TRAM SERVICE SUSPENDED.

(Peb United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 27. IJiev city was unusually quiet to-night owing k> the cessation of the tram service, tho majority of suburban residents preferring to remain at home rather than risk a long tramp back after tho theatre or picture show. At a meeting of miners at Huntly on Saturday afternoon it was decided to return to work to-day, but another difference of opinion has been brought to a head at tho Pukemiro mine, and consequently no work is being done thero to-day. This timo it is between the men and their employers. It appears that tho ongino-drivers working at Pukemiro are under a different agreement from those employed by the Taupiri mines at Huntly and Rotowaru. At the Pukemiro mine they aro members of the Miners' Union, and consequently they ceascd work ■with other operatives. Tho result is that no ventilating or pumping work was done sit tho mine while the strike lasted, and this morning tho manager, acting under instructions from the company, met the union executive with a proposal to havo this rectified. No finality has yet been readied. A statement made this morning by the officials of tho company traverses the whole position. "Tho Pukemiro Mines' Union has called out tho engine-drivers, who aro members of the Miners' Union, during the strike," runs tho statement, "with utter disregard as to -what is going to happen to tho company's property, and not caring whether ventilation was maintained or whether tho water rose in the mine. One of tho engine-drivers lias now left us, and, two others not having returned to work, render us short-handed. Wo know we shall have difficulty in filling tho vacant places, because members of tho Auckland Enginedrivers' Union will not' join tho Pukemiro Miners' Union, two men having previously left our employment rather than do so." The company accordingly asks the miners to insert tho following clause in tho current agreement:—"An engine-driver employed at tho Pukemiro collieries may be a member of cither tho Auckland Enginedrivers' Union or tho Huntly Enginedrivers' Union at bis option, and so long as he remains a member of either of theso unions ho shall not be requested to join tho Pukemiro Miners' Union." The company further reports that its mine manager put this before the members of the union this morning, and they stated that :t would hit their preference clause, but the company fails to see this, as the drivers are given an option in the matter. Members of the union who interviewed the manager agreed to leave the matter to tho decision of the Pukemiro engine-drivers themselves. The company appears to be concerned about the e*aet degree of freedom of choice that will bo given to the engine-drivers in .this matter. The Auckland Engine-drivers' Union is not actively concerned in tho matter at all. This delay in the resumption of hewing at Pukemiro will, of course, affect tho coal deliveries to Auckland. In any case, last week's supplies can hardly bo increased even with the two large mines now running before late on Wednesday, when the first of the renewed output is-, expected here. The city tramways are considered as one of the first essential orders, and until they have a starting stock the easement of the present shortage will be small. Tho stoppage of the trams was not seriously felt on Sunday, on which day traffic has been light since the fares wore recently doubled. The suburban trains carried heavy loads of passengers, extra carriages and special tains relieving tho extraordinary pressure. This morning was showery, but the weather cleared later in the day. Motor vohicles were running from all the suburbs in a steady stream, thus enabling business people to reach their work as usual.

CITY'S GAS SUPPLIES,

PROSPECTS EXCEEDINGLY GLOOMY

(Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 27. The Gas Company has no further supplies of coal in sight, and is not now in a position to carry on its struggle for longer than a few (Jays. So far as can be seen at the moment, the prospect of the gas supply continuing through this week is very small. Mr J. Lowe, engineer and manager to the company, will make a definite announcement regarding tho service to-morrow.