THE COAL CRISIS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15320, 16 September 1920, Page 5

THE COAL CRISIS.

SUPPLIES DWINDLING DAILY. | m \*i ALTCK kAND, i ast n i g ht. liie strike among the Waikato coal miners is still going on, tnid coal supplies are dwindling further every day. ihis morning the Hon. E. W. Allison, chairman oi director, of the Taupiri Mines Ltd., explained tho position fully as far as the company is concerned. The demand of the men At Rotowaro and Pukemiro was «*, the outset definitely a demand upon the Government for a concession m regard t6 fares between Hantly Rotowaro, and Pukemiro, said Mr Alhson. The company was urged !to use its influence m support of thfe I n^ ei l? ve< l^ est . but was never suggested that the companies should pay the amount necessary to give the men the concession they desire. Tlie men have now found that the Government is not prepared to *a&t the concessions, and ttiey are eeaidng to change th.ir ground and 1^ i s reported they, sdggest that the «ppames shall pay the difffereric. between subllrbah aiid ordinary fares. This w an attempt to introduce a hew and very dangerous element. The companies here have _io sort of control over th. train lares, the rates of which are fixed iby the- Railway 'Department alone, and it must bo obvious that there oan be no dispute with the company m regard tc the amount of these fares. If this principle is once conceded it will meaai that if workers anywhere wish to gain a concession which is m tJie hands of the Government alone audi which, the Government is unable or unwilling to concede, the workers cam at once turn round to their employers and say "We can't get this from the. Government. You iwill have to contf.de it." WELLINGTON, last night. Mr P. Hally, who Jta& been engaged adjusting the coal dispute at Oore and Mataaira, has not yet returned to Wellington- aiid it is possible that before going north to attempt to secure a settlement there he may Visit the West Coast min<&> Mr J. Arbuokle, secretary of the Miners' .Federation, who has been m the feouth m Connection with the dispute at Gore and Matain-a returned to Wellington to-day. Mr Arbucklo m? formed a reporter, that the disputes at the Huntly mines hadybeeh placed m the hands of the Miners'' F.dferation, a.nd tomorrow probably he -would enter into negotiations with Mr Massed and the owners with a' view of trying to bring abonit a settlertiteiit. Mr Arbucklo says that he had ' not received any official information as regards ihe trouble at the Blackball and State mines, and therefore Was hot m a position to make any statement with regard to them. ''Outside the.yHtoritiy question, things are fairly satisfactory from a national jSoint of view," added Ijjr Arouckle. "There liave been a .few local grievances, but outside of these the position is all right as far as I can see." — Press Assn.