THE COAL SITUATION

Southland Times, Issue 18936, 24 September 1920, Page 5

THE COAL SITUATION

STATE MINERS AGAIN IDLE. MR MASSEY PESSIMISTIC. WARNING TO THE PUBLIC. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, September 23. When asked about the coal situation today, the Prime Minister said that the coal supplies were still very far from being satisfactory. Only that morning he had received a message to the effect that the State coal miners were idle again. He had no idea why they were not working to-day. The coal miners’ executive had waited on him and had had a long interview with him in the Cabinet room, but no decision had been reached. The chairman of directors of the Huntly Mining Company was coming to Wellington. He had already left Auckland. When he arrived they would have another conference. What the result would be he had no idea. Matters were not good. A considerable quantity of coal was coming from Newcastle and they were keeping the railways and industries going. How long that would continue he did not know. He just wished to tell the people of this country to be ready for any emergency. A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT. RAILWAY CUT MOMENTARILY AVERTED. (Special to the Times.) WELLINGTON, September 23. No information regarding the situation at the coal mines other than that given in the House of Representatives was obtainable to-day. The Prime Minister was again in communication with (be representatives of the men, and while nothing has been stud of the progress of the negotiations, it is understood that were it not for the complication of the “irritation" stoppage at the State mines the position could be described as showing a slight improvement. The menace to the continued running of full train service? has diminished a little.. It is understood that there is not. the same danger of a reduction of timetables as was feared during (he past few days. The Railway Department had made all arrangements for a, “rut,” and was quite ready to carry on with a diminished service. What the extent of the reduction would have been has not been officially slated hut there Appears to have been every' prospect of as general and drastic a reduction of services as was necessary during the period of virtual coal famine last year. ft was not only in the north where the coal trouble was most acute that the “cut” would have operated. Australian supplies have eased the position. THE STATE MINE STRIKE. MR P, C. WEBB INTERVIEWED. INDUSTRY GENERALLY IN A BAD WAY. GREYMOUTH, September 23. The Stare mines were idle to-day. This is the fifth day those mines have been idle during the past fortnight, but not in any case have they been so on consecutive days. In order to ascertain the actual position as from the miners' standpoint, a representative of the Argus to-day interviewed Mr P. C. Webb, president of the State Miners’ Union, who stated that owing to illness he had not been in actual touch with the matters in dispute. A/kcd if (he trouble was likely to continue, Mr Webb replied that that would depend, as far as he could sec, ttpan circumstances, of which the Government was fully cognisant.

Asking if the press statement.? alleging i the possibility of more serious industrial , trouble were based on fact, Mr Webb said that question was one best left to the Miners’ Federation executive to answer at , Wellington, but he added that as far as he. I knew a great deal of dissatisfaction did j exist at the mines, which if dealt with by ) the Government sympathetically would riisj appear. Beyond this lie preferred to say j nothing. Any future action must rest with 1 the Federation.

j Asked if the Miners Federation had authorised the Store miners to pursue their present, policy, Mr Webb replied, “Decidedly not.” Asked whether the State mines •would resume to-morrow, he stated that he . did not know, a? thru point would he de- ; eided by the men that night. He further said as regards prospects for next week that : he war. unable to ckverihe them as brighter, but lie stated emphatically that, the una.nii tnmts wish of the miner.-: wa- that (he near future should witness less trouble through pin pricks. However, the whole inriurt.rv w.as | in a had way nr disorganisation, and little ; seemed to be done by those in authority to i rise to (he or carton and remove the several ; causes of disaffection. The Federal inn had ■ matte plain to the Government, and the employer? the nature of these reuses. He | preferred to leave the matter j-.-t at that. 1 Questioned "bout the generaJ real shortage ! 'Tv Webb said that the mires s r pres'-rt d'ej veloprd could, if fully mar-'H end svni- | ■ .aim 1 :r-il!y admine-mr d. produce more jeon! th.r.n the indu-trite of New Zcaalnd ■'.rid ;■ ■■ -"re W’v ten? qmrpitv wv : not now available was due to tit? pin pricking against the worker? enrrinur-lly in evidence miners to sack o:V-r employment, as he knew many vte>—> (’rung, THE WAIKATO VJNKRb. PROPOSED RESUMPTION OF PROSPECT? .'AID TO BE HOPEFUL. AUCKLAND, sept -mber 23. The Huntly Miners’ U-v.-.n held :t meet;ng to-day at '■ !m U j laimrauriicarmn from ■ac iha mm t-f thn vauld reI urn to wj»k and leave the matter ; :>t arrannt a a setrUmsnt o( the dispute |: o the ’''.'deration, v. ,i? eonsai-.'. '••). It is 1 epfi! ted tlvt [he tr.eet.’nir, winch was r.l- ---| tended by .about 220 members, decided by a | • :!! nf : rri: v!n tie the strike. -’jotirill Saturday, wnen a full-r an ■ ;caumpuon of work after ?aturasy ; nj i.'.g are said to he hopeful. | NO IMPROVEMENT -AT AUCKLAND. i TRAM? TO Cj'.ALE RUNNING. i " AUCKLAND, fTptomber 23. We have received no r.f.vs of coni coming forward or of a likelihood of any arioi* i.-iin to our nearly exhausted .stock in time to avert a stoppage of the tramway seri vice,” said the Mayor tin? morning in I speaking of the .situation its it is today, j "Stocks arc now held in such small quanj tit its that the Public Services Committee will announce to morrow the definite time | for which the tram service may be maintained. So far as the city electricity sta- ! tion is concerned,” added Mr Gunson, “there i is enough coal in hand to serve for another 1 ten days from now. We have, however, received no further advice from Newcastle, and it is impossible to say when the first shipment of. overseas coal for the Council will come to hand.”