COAL SUPPLY.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1920, Page 5

COAL SUPPLY.

STATE MINES IDLE AGAIN. NO SETTLEMENT IN VIEW, PREMIER'S GRAVE HINT, (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. When asked about the coal situation to-day, the Prime Minister said that 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. Mr. Massey said 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 Companies was coming to Wellington. He had already left Auckland, and 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. 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 the representatives of the men, and while nothing has been said 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 services had diminished a little. It is understood that there is not the same danger of a reduction of the time-table as was feared during the past few days. The Railway Department had made all arrangements for a ( 'etit," and was quite ready to carry on with a diminished service. What the extent of the reduction would have been has not been officially stated, hut there appears to have been every prospect of as general and drastic a reduction of the services as was necessary during the period of virtual coal famine last year. It was not only in the north, where the coal trouble was most acute, that the "cut" would have operated.

THE WAIKATO STRIKE. A RESUMPTION PROBABLE. LEAVING DISPUTE TO EXECUTIVE. By Telegraph.—Press Association. " Auckland, Last Night. The Huntly Miners' Union held a meeting to-day, at which a communication from the secretary of the Miners' Federation, asking the, men if they would return to work and leave the matter of arranging a settlement of the dispute to {he Federation, was considered. It is reportcd_that .the meeting, which was attended by about 220 members, decided by a small majority to coatinue the strike. However, in view of the small attendance, and the facts that the Rotowaru and Pukemiro men, who were most interested, were practically unrepresented, it was decided to adjourn till Saturday, when a fuller attendance could be obtained. The prospects of a resumption after Saturday's meeting are said to be hopeful. MINERS' VIEW. BLAME ON THE GOVERNMENT. FUTURE OUTLOOK UNCERTAIN. Greymouth, Last Night. The State mines were idle to-day for the fifth day during the past fortnight, but not in any case have they been idle on consecutive days. _ Iri order to ascertain the actual position from the miners' standpoint, a pressman interviewed Mr., P. C. Webb, president of the State Miners' .Union, who stated that owing to illness lie had not been in actual touch with the matters in dispute. Asked if the trouble was likely to continue, Mr. Webb replied that that would depend, ae far as he could see, upon circumstances of which the Government was fully cogAsked if the Press statements allegnisant. ing the possibility of more serious industrial trouble were based on fact, Mr.' Webb said the question was one best left to the Miners' Federation executive to answer at Wellington, but he added that, as far as lie knew, a great deal of dissatisfaction does exist at the mines, which if dealt with by the Government sympathetically, would disappear. Beyond this he preferred to say nothing, concluding that any future action must rest with' the Federation. Asked if the Miners' Federation had authorised the State miners to pursue thei» present policy, Mr. WeT>b replied: "Decidedly not." Asked whether the State miners would resume work tomorrow, he stn,tfid that he did not know, as that point would be decided by the men to-night.

He further said, as regards the prospects for next week, that he was unable to describe them as brighter, hut he stated emphatically that the unanimous wish of the miners is that the near future will witness less trouble through pin pricks. However, the whole industry was in a bad way of disorganisation, and little seemed to be done by those in authority to rise to the occasion and remove the several causes of disaffection. The Federation had made plain to the Government and the employers the 1 nature of these causes.