AUSTRALIAN COAL.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18395, 31 July 1931, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN COAL.

REASON FOR IMPORTATION UNCERTAINTY OF COAST MINERS. .MR FORBES’ ASSERTION. (By Telegraph.—Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. In the House of Representatives today the Leader of the Labour Party, Mr H. E. Holland, asked the Prime Minister whether he was aware that owing to the importation of Australian coal the Wallsend mines were likely to be closed down next week for an indefinite period as a result of failure to obtain orders, and that consequently 200 miners would be idle. 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 industries were importing Australian coal owing to the uncertainty of supply from the West Coast. “The hon. gentleman speaks of the difficulty of keeping the Wallsend mine going. We can’t keep the State mines going,” Mr Forbes stated. He alleged the importation of coal from overseas wa:s being forced upon industries in consequence of the actions of miners who walked out' at any moment and it was not known whether they would be back in a day or in a Mr Holland: Surely the Prime Minister knows that the mines are never working full time and the men are standing by. Mr Forbes said he was sure that it was the desire of everybody to use New Zealand coal, but there was no guarantee of continuity of supply. Mr Holland: That’s utter nonsense. Walk Out at any Moment. Mr Forbes repeated the 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 haven't any element of fact?” The Premier 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 trouble to which Mr Holland had referred was entirely in the hands of the miners. On the West Coast it was a question whether they could'be depended upon to carry on the industry so that there would be no dagger of a hold up. Mr Holland: That’s romancing.