COAL STRIKE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21157, 5 July 1940, Page 2

COAL STRIKE

MINISTER’S ATTITUDE STATEMENT BY UNIONIST BIG PRODUCTION LOSS Wellington! Thursday “ If Mr Webb had any desire to be fair he would have to acknowledge that it was Mr O’Brien’s ‘ yes—no ’ decision which left us all in the air,” Mr English said. “Mr O’Brien’s last words in his written decision were: ‘ I leel safe in recommending that the trucker be reinstated and be separated from the other truckers and kept under surveillance.’ “ We resent the imputations that we are in any way standing for sabotage in the mines. The union would be the first to take action, and would dismiss anyone found clearly guilty of sabotage,” added Mr English, “ but if Mr O’Brien makes the trucker guilty why should he say that he considers himself safe in recommending that the management reinstate the man?” Big Loss of Coal By the end of the week about 6000 tons of coal will have been lost to the country as a result of the strike. There is no prospect of the miines resuming tomorrow, and it appears likely that the deadlock will continue into the coming week, although negotiations are proceeding. All binns at the three mines will be empty by tomorrow, which will mean an almost immediate shortage of this particular class of coal, which is used principally for househld purposes. The dispute has not yet had a serious effect upon shipping, but should it be prolonged it will have a decided effect on coal cargoes.