"GO-SLOW."

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1920, Page 5

"GO-SLOW."

POLICY REVIVED. THREAT TO THE COAL SUPPLY. : i POSITION MAY BE SERIOU3. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington,, Last Night. The revival of the "go slow" policy at the coal mines is regarded in" official circles as a very serious matter. The Dominion is still living hand to mouth as far as coal is concerned, and the railway reserves are so small that a "cut" in railway services would become necessary quickly if weekly supplies were reduced. Other industries have scarcely any reserves at all. The amount of coal coming from Newcastle i at the present time is satisfactory, but there is no guarantee that supplies from that quarter will be maintained. The latest official information on the subject suggests, indeed, that New Zealand must be prepared to see its coal imports reduced to some extent during the rest of this year, owing to the threatened shortage in Australia's home market. The reduction of imports*will be a serious matter in itself, and will be accentuated if the output of the New Zealand mines is cut down again. The points in dispute as between the miners and the coalmine owners are very small. The amount of money involved is merely a few hundred pounds per annum, and neither side can be particularly concerned about the financial aspect." But the miners state that the agreement is not being interpreted fairly, and that their interpretation must be adopted by the employers. The em--ployers do not concede the fairness of the miners' interpretation, but are willing to refer the points in dispute to an impartial arbitrator. The miners so far have not accepted this offer of arbitration, and apparently they do not intend to accept it.

RESTRICTION' OF COAL OUTPUT. . TO APPLY TO ALL MINES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, August 28. It was authoritatively stated in Wellington to-day that the coal miners throughout New Zealand Lave decided} to restrict the output .is a preliminary to sterner tactics intended to enforce a settlement of 'the long-standing dispute at the Green Island, Taratu and Mataura mines. It is known that tlte go-slow policy i.-i actually in operation at the Tanpiri, S.tate, aiid Blackball mines, and, as ii Tesult of decisions arrived at l>y other unions, will probably be in operation in* all the mines by Monday next. The miners as a whole are said to be determined that the disputes mentioned shall be settled forthwith, and: if isfactory solution of the difficulties is not arrived at by the middle of next week, a general stoppage of work may be looked for. Future action will be considered at stop-work meetings to be held by all the unions next week, I EMPLOYERS WILLING TO ARBI* ! TRATE. Dunedin, August 28. In reference to 'the telegram yesterday stating that some of the West Coast coal miners had decided to go-slow as aj method of forcing the Government to make the Taratu and Green Island coal companies observe the conditions of the national agreement, these companies deny that they are breaking the agree-' meat. The present question is really as to what is the pre-war rate of pay and the companies concerned thought it was fired by the Disputes Committee in June, but since then the miners have opened it up again. Dunedin, August 28. A meeting of 'the coal mine owners today agreed that the whole of the matters in dispute at the various mines'should be referred to Mr. P. Hally, acting-chairman of the National Disputes Committee. The employers state that they are willing to abide by Mr. Hally's decision.