BRITISH COAL SLUMP

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14767, 5 October 1921, Page 5

BRITISH COAL SLUMP

WELSH COLLIERIES CLOSE MAKING COSTS TOO HIGH. IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY ON. (Australian and N'.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 4, 0 p.m. LONDON, October 4. The coal owners in North Wales arc closing down all their collieries to-day. and have given notice to the workers that unless wages arc re-arranged and Lhe high cost of working reduced, it Will be impossible to prosecute the industry. AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRANTS •♦ DEFERRED BY UNEMPLOYMENT. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received October 4, T>.. r > p.m. LONDON. October 3. Mr Percy Hunter, interviewed by the Australian Press Association regarding Lord Northcliffe's strong pronouncement that Australia's safety depended on a hold immigration policy, said that Lord Northcliffc emphasised the policy laid down by Mr Hughes when the department was created. Mr Hughes was cjiiitc alive to the necessity for increasing population so that Australia could be adequately defended. He had now completed, under Mr Hughes' instructions, plans to secure 100,000 yearly. The machinery was ready for operation when Australia was ready to take people, and but for the unemployment wave which had struck the country plans might already have been in operation.

Mr Hughes during July, in discussing the problem with the British Ministry. said that if he could get £30,000,000 for development work he could open up new territory and begin to settle people forthwith. The department was now merely marking time so far as Queensland and New South Wales were concerned, and with the exception of Victoria and West Australia no one was going to Australia except nominees. There were plenty of the right type in England ready to go if the necessary development of Australia to ensure profitable work were obtained.