COAL CRISIS

Southland Times, Issue 18916, 1 September 1920, Page 5

COAL CRISIS

GOOD PROGRESS TOWARDS SETTLEMENT. MR HALLY’S MEDIATION. TRIBUTE BY THE PREMIER. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 31. Immediately the House resumed this evening, Mr Massey stated that he was glad to be able to inform the House that considerable progress had been made in the settlement of the coal difficulty. He explained that since he had not been able to give personal attention to matters in dispute, Mr P. Hally had been appointed to look into the matter, and during the past ten days he had been busily engaged thereon. Mr Hally has now’ reported to him that, subject to certain conditions which had been satisfactorily settled, the parties to the dispute at the Green Island and Taratu mines had agreed to accept his decision. He would now proceed to make an award in a few days.

Mr Massey added (hat the matters in dispute were not in themselves of great importance, but they were likely to develop into serious difficulties, and he considered that Mr Hally had shown good sense in adjusting them. He had done good work. CARGOES FROM NEWCASTLE. EMBARGO NOT LIFTED. SUPPLIES FOR IMMEDLVTE NEEDS. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON. August 31. Mr Luke asked the Prime Minister in the House to-day whether the Commonwealth Government had removed the embargo on the export of Newcastle coal to New Zealand, and whether he would ascertin the accuracy or otherwise of the published statement that Sweden had contracted to purchase 1.5 D.OOO tons of Newcastle coal. Would the Prime Minister ascertain also the price at. which this coal was being sold to Sweden ? Mr Massey replied that the statement that Sweden had purchased, a largo quantity of Australian coal was correct. He was not sure at the moment of the exact quantity, or of the price. With regard to the other part of the question, the embargo on the export of Australian coal had not been lifted. He had told the house a few days ago that in response to inquiries he had made he had received a reply from Mr Hughes which was "satisfactory so far as it went.” It was satisfactory so far as the immediate needs of the country were concerned. There were four steamers at Newcastle now for cargoes of* coal for New Zealand. lie had telegraphed to Mr Hughes asking that these ships should be given their cargoes. He had arranged that- a representative of the Railway Department should go to Newcastle to look to the position and to endeavour to secure coal for New Zealand.