SHORT OF COAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19730, 27 December 1926, Page 7

SHORT OF COAL

ON CHRISTMAS DAY BRITAIN’S STRANGE FATE QUIET TIMES IN EUROPE Although the coal strike is over and plenty of coal has been mined m Britain, it is reported that thousands of families had no coal fires at Christmas. Failure on the part of the railways transport is given as the reason. However, messages state that money has circulated freely and there is a spirit of hopefulness abroad in the Old Country. Paris and Brussels on the other hand, report a quiet Christmas, the French people having been affected by a wave of economy, while the Belgians have no money.

By Tel«r?aph—Per Press Asm.—Copyri<hL

HOME FIRES OUT COAL SUPPLIES HELD UP. THE RAILWAYS BLAMED. Received Dee. 26, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 24. Thousands of British families are unable, in the words of the war-time song, to “keep the home fires burning” this Christmas because, strangely enough, coal is scarcer than at some periods during the six months’ strike. Merchants blame the railway companies and the latter blame the merchants. The fact remains that the railway lines are blocked with coal-laden trucks, yet householders are unable to obtain coal. Even the King’s gift of coal to the poor of Windsor became lost on the railways. It was found at Nuneaton yesterday after covering twenty miles in twelve days. Special efforts were made to secure delivery to-day. THERE AT LAST THE GIFT FOR WINDSOR. GOOD CHEEK FOR THE OLD. Received Dec. 26. 5.5 p.m. LONDON. Dec. 25. The King’s coal arrived at Windsor and was distributed among 800 poor inhabitants, all over the age of sixty. HOUSEWIFE’S PROBLEM HOW TO COOK TUBKEY. EVERYBODY CHEERFUL. Received Dec. 26, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 25. Christmas Day will be remembered in many London homes as a cold, damp and cheerless one because of their coal- . less plight. In some cases it was worse ‘ than during the strike. The strange i spectacle was witnessed in some districts of merchants doling small day ! supplies to queues. Innumerable housewives faced the problem of forcing a large turkey into i a small gas oven and cooking it with | gas. the pressure of which was greatly weakened owing to the general resort ■to this method of preparing the dinner. • Many poor folk gathered round oil ' stoves.

■ There was an unprecedented demand 'for rabbits in districts affected by the strike. In spite of difficulties, however, i everybody has been wonderfully cheerful. Money has been circulated with seemingly the usual freedom. There is a general feeling of thankfulness that the year is ending with the hope of better times in 1927. SUREST PROMISE OF THRIVING TIMES. INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK BETTER. Received Dec, 26. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 25. “Historians may regard 1926 as a landmark,” remarks the 4 ‘Observer.” “It has been full of vicissitudes and contrasts at home and abroad. There is a large increase in new shipping tonnage under construction and on order. It is the surest promise of more thriving times in 1927, while throughout the country there is earnest discussion of means of improving the relations betwnon labour and capital.” Trade union funds are depleted to ; such an extent that powerful unions have found it necessary to impose heavy [levies to build up their resources. Mr. Frank Hodges predicts that, with hard work, the coal trade can be reigained. Mr J. T. Brownlie in his annual report speaks optimistically of the prospects of the engineering industry. —— A WINDFALL FOk AGED MINERS ■ " "'.-ir. OWNERS’ Gr-AEBOUS GIFT Received Dec. 26, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 25. Members of the Nottinghamshire miners’ new non-political union were pleasantly surprised by the receipt of a grant of £lO.OOO from the coal owners, from which they paid 10s each to aged miners at Christmastide.

ON THE CONTINENT GAY CITY’S QUIETNESS PEOPLE HAVE NO MONEY Received Dec. 26, 5.5 p.m LONDON, Dec. 24. The “Morning Post’s” Paris correspondent says that Christmas promises to be quiet in the gay city —the quietest since the Armistice. Tables are still available in. the leading hotels, which a year ago were unprocurable. Managers of shops and stores agree that a wave of economy has swept over France. Messages from Brussels also report that Christmas is quiet in Belgium, as the people have no money. BITTER WEATHER FOR FRENCH CHRISTMAS PARIS IN SUBDUED MOOD Received Dec. 26, 11.5 p.m PARIS, Dec. 25. The weather is so cold in Eastern France that wild beasts have been driven from the forests to seek shelter and food in the villages. A herd of bdars last night from the Argonne Forest invaded the suburb of Vi try le Francoise and were hunted by an armed posse. i The. temperature in the Vosges is 16 degrees (centigrade) below zero. I Gales, snow and ice are reported, 1 even in Biarritz. Several deaths have been recorded i from cold in Eastern land Northern i France, while the Mediterranean coast i reports an inch of snowfall. . Paris spent Christmas Eve in the traditional manner, supping in cabarets, but the spirit of gaiety w?ls distinctly ! more subdued than during the past few i years. Currency troubles and the extreme cold are held responsible for the diminution of the celebration. THE NEW SPIRIT MORE WIDELY SPREAD FRENCH PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Received Dec. 26, 11.5 p.m PARIS, Dec. 25. M. Doumergue gave the Press the following Christinas message:—“l, like Dr, Stresemann and Sir Austen Chamberlain, am convinced that 1927 will see the new spirit and a new conception of international affairs more widely spread through the minds of the peoples, and then there will really be [something changed in the destinies of humanity. ’ ’ DOORN MAKES MERRY WILHELM'S CELEBRATION ■ CHARACTERISTIC “LARGESSE” Received Dec. 26, 11.5 pjn. LONDON, Dec. 25. Messages from Doorn state that, sur•punded by friends and relatives, Wilhelm spent one of the merriest Christmases since his exile. None of the exKaiser’s own children, however, attended the festivities. He received gifts from Germans living in the United States. The Christmas Tree was a tall fir from the chateau grounds. It was felled a week ago under Wilhelm’s personal direction, and was placed in the great hall, where the task of decorating it fell chiefly on Princess ! Hermione, who also superintended the I distribution of gifts to retainers, while Wilhelm was busy sawing and fashioning blocks of wood branded “Imper- ; iall.” which he presented to all. The festivities, which are continuing all day, will be resumed to-morrow, when the great hall will be thrown open to all the household.

THE DOLLARS TALK AMERICANS LET GO “PROSPERITY CHRISTMAS” Received Dec. 26. 11.5 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 25. With the trade agencies of New York and other large cities reporting Christmas purchasing in the greatest volume in the history of the countrv, the United States celebrated Yuletide on a lavish scale. Large industrial

corporations declared special dividends totalling more than five hundred million dollars, while bonuses distributed in the financial district of New York and large business organisations throughout the country are expected to aggregate over two hundred million dollars. Charity distributions were unprecedented, the New York “Times” alone raising 250,000 dollars, while the country’s total is estimated at five hundred millions. The festivities in the largo cities arc reported to have assumed unprecedented heights. Night life was given free rein. This Christmas has been dubbed the “Prosperity Christmas.”