THE WATERSIDERS’ HOLD-UP.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160736, 24 August 1920, Page 7

THE WATERSIDERS’ HOLD-UP.

COAL CRISIS IN WELLINGTON ® POSITION VERY SERIOUS. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 24. The coal crisis continues, and the position could hardly be more serious. The cutting off of gas and electric supplies has paralysed numerous industries. Operatives who went to work this morning were told that the factories could not run, as no power was available. Many hundreds of men, women, and young people were consequently unemployed today, and there is no knowing when they will be called back to work. The pumping plants connected with the supply ox water to high levels will be run until tha present stock'of coal is exhausted, but only ten tons are left. The City Council’s milk depot has sufficient coal for tha next seven days, and if the supply ia not replenished, the authorities will he faced with the problem of how to provide steam and hot water for cleansing purposes.

A special meeting of the City Council was held to-day to consider the situation, but no decision was come to, and the Council adjourned until 4 o’clock this afternoon in tho hopq.that there will be a favourable development. The Mayor said the holding up of the coal supply could not be justified. Tho proper course would have been to have gone on with the work and submitted the matter to the Disputes Committee. There was no coal for the trams, and very little for the electric light station. Every effort would be made to keep up the supply of light for the hospital. The Gas Comjxany states it will be quite'finable to resume the supply until coal comes to hand. The executive of the Watersiders' Union met to-day, and decided upon a course of action, which will be put before a meeting of the Union to-morrow morning.

Nearly all the steamers in port are idle. The only ones being worked are those which commenced discharging' last week. NO THAIS RUNNING BEEAD-BAKING MAT STOP. WELLINGTON, August 24. As the trams are not running, a thousand p'eople were obliged bo walk to work this morning. Some employers provided motor cars for the transport of their hands. There has been a great run on candles, kerosene oil stores, and wood. There will he no gas for cooking or lighting to-night, but the City Council hopes to be able to keep the electric ligho going for residential premises for* the early part of the evening. The Government Printing Office typesetting machines cannot be worked owing to the cutting off of electric power* and the issue of important printed matter is being delayed. ing x tire ''payment for* the discharge of superphosphates brought by the Japanese steamer was referred to the Disputes Committee on Thursday, and that the decision of the committee was that the agreement rate of 2s 5d per hour should be paid, instead of the rate demanded, viz., 3s and 4s per hour. Tjre stoppage of work means a loss iu wages alone of some thousands of pounds per day. Unless power is available, some bakers will be unable to bake any bread to-morrow.