ADMIRALTY COAL

Otago Witness, Issue 3280, 24 January 1917, Page 15

ADMIRALTY COAL

ADDRESS TO WATERSIDE WORKERS. A CANDID EXPLANATION. WELLINGTON, January 19. The Hon. W. 11. Denies (Acting-Minister of Labour) to-day addressed the waterside workers on the question of unloading a collier for tho Admiralty, pointing out tho necessity of avoiding delay. In his address the Minister said he had heard so many rumours gmug about in regard to tho shipment of coal that he thought it his duty to put tho facts plainly before them. He did not want to mincematters or conceal anything. Ho wanted to be perfectly frank. " First of all, I want to tell you straight," ho said, "that this is an Admiralty collier, chartered by the Admiralty. As you all know. Admiralty colliers are practically on a time-table, and tho Imperial Government cannot stand anv delay in the discharge of Admiralty colliers. " The position is entirely different from positions that occasionally occur between shipping companies and you. The Government of New Zealand is being asked why tho collier is being delayed*. It may be of the utmost importance that colliers should bo released. The Government is faced with this position: We must get coal from somewhere. Wo aro engaged in the biggest war ever known in history, and wo are bound to fulfil our engagements in carrying Homo men and produce. Let us accept the position. Wo have to look to the future. Just before tho end of the strike in Australia we approached the Admiralty and asked if they had any coal cargoes to spare. They replied, after some time, that they had certain cargoes to spare, and would direct them to come to New Zealand." Continuing, tho Minister said the Government had had two, and there were three others to come. A rumour had gone about that tho Government had brought in coal to defeat the miners on the West Coast. They wanted every ounce of coal the West Coast miners could produce. "We will take every ounce of it, and we don't want to harass the West Coast miners in any way whatever. Tf they don't produce enough wo must get coal from outside. If you can tell mo how wo can get ships to get coal from Newcastle, or even from the West Coast, I shall bo only too glad." A Voice : The Union Company. Tho Minister: We have most of the ships of the Union Company. A "Voice : And you aro paying them well. Tho Minister: Ybu have to pay well in these days. Wo have to pay an enormous sum in demurrage, which adds to the cost of the coal. What aro we going to do with it? A Voice: Run it back. Tho Minister: What is the use of running it back when we want it for our own ships? A Voice: They won't take it. The Minister: They have to take it. It is Admiralty coal. We are not going to store it, as has been suggested, to uso in case of a strike. It won't store. It will only perish. Tho only thing to do i 3 to uso it at once. Now, I want to put this point before you as men: 1 have been perfectly open with you. I havo been endeavouring to show you there is a real shortage of coal, and that wo have to get coal. Just before Christmas the Railway Department should havo had a largo tonnage of coal from the West Coast. Wo had to give a largo quantity towards supplying tho transports and other ships going Home, and go short ourselves. Tho Government was bound to unload the coal within a certain time, and we hoped to have the watersiders' assistance. Wo don't want to go outside if we can possibly help it. Tho Government was not buying and selling tho coal. It was being used for Imperial work, except that a portion of one cargo was used on railways. They did not want to uso it, as it was not very suitable. This is not an ordinary dispute between a shipping company and yourselves, he continued. In this dispute the Government stands neutral. I understand _ that your executive is going to havo an interview with the shipping companies and other representatives with reference to your wages. Tho Government has no intention of interfering. We stand neutral there, but this question is ono that brings you straight out against the Government, and the Imperial Government as well. Mr Bennett (manager of the Watcrsidcre' Employment Burcal), who presided, said the Minister would answer questions. There was a storm of them, and lively dialogues lasted some time. A number of tho questions suggested that the New Zealand mines could produco all the coal required if they were worked to tho full extent. A Voice: Let these men you vo put in gaol out, and we'll talk about working coal. Another persistent interrogation was "What proposition do you put before us?" Tho Minister: That you turn to and work her at 1 o'clock. A Voice: On any conditions? The Minister: On the conditions of your agreement. "A Voice: Do you want us to be called scalis all over Australia,? Tho Minister: Has Australia fold you anvthing? A Voice: Yes. Something that you don't know. Mr Bennett announced that: a suggestion had boon made that the matter lie referred to the Disputes Committee. lie had put that before the representatives of the shipowners and the union officials. and they appeared to he agreeable to it. Wore the men agreeable? There were sign's of npproval and dissent. Some members wished to submit motions, but Mr Bennett refused to i ike them. The Minister had given thrin his explanation to remove an nusundcrstanding, and had answered their questions fairly. Finally, Mr Curr : oe (president of tho union) announced that a meetina - would be held next morning to consider tho matter.

A SETTLEMENT REACHED. WELLINGTON, January 20. Tho Admiralty collier troublo has been settled. Iho matter was considered by tho Disputes Committee, when the union representatives woro satisfied by tho Hon. W, H. Ilorrics as to the movements of the boat and tho purpose for which tho coal was required. In consideration of the dusty state of foreign coal, tho Minister agreed to the payment of sixpence nn hour additional, The recommendation of tho Disputes Committeo was accepted at a union meeting this morning, and work was immediately resumed.