LACK OF COAL ORDERS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 August 1931, Page 9

LACK OF COAL ORDERS

WALLSEND Ml IN E MAY CLOSE WARM ARGUMENT IN THE HOUSE. PRIME MINISTER BLAMES MINERS. RETORT PROM LABOUR LEADER. x By Telegraph.—Press Association. i Wellington, July 31., The Leader of .the Labour Party, Mr. H. E. Holland, asked-the Prime Minister in the House of-Representatives to-day whether he was aware-that owing to the '■ importation of Australian coal the Wallsend mine would probably be closed next-week for ah indefinite period, the result of failure to obtain orders, and 1 that 'consequently 200 miners would be out of work. ' tt n The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, said he was-not aware that , the Wallsend' mine : was likely to be closed. He contended that industries were importing Australian coal owing to the uncertainty of supply from the West Coast. • . “Mr. Holland speaks of the difficulty in keeping-the Wallsend mine going; we cannot keep the State mines going, Mr. Forbes stated. He alleged that the importation of coal from overseas was beih<’ forced upon industries in consequence of the actions of the miners, who walked out at any moment, and it was not known whether, they would be back in a day, or in .a week. ; ; . •. . Mr. Holland: “Surely the Prime Minister knows-, that* the, mines are never working full time, and that the men are standing by 1” ■ Tsir. Forbes said he was sure it was the desire of everybody to use. New Zealand coal, but there was no guarantee of continuity of supply. Air. Holland: “That’s utter nonsense!” . Mr. Forbes repeated his assertion that the importation of coal was due to the liability of miners, to walk out at any moment, whereupon Mr. Holland interjected, “Why make statements that have not any element of fact?” Sir. Forbes asserted that industries were. faced with the position of not having an assured continuity of supplies of coal, with the result that they had to procure reserve supplies of Australian coal.. He thought the remedy for the trouble to which Air. Holland had referred was entirely in the hands of the miners on the coast. lt was a question whether they could, be depended upon to carry on the. industry so that there would be no danger of a hold-up. Air. Holland: “That’s romancing altogether.” i