COAL TRADE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15868, 5 April 1917, Page 6

COAL TRADE.

GREY MINES IDLE. FEARS OF STRIKE BECOMING GENERAL. tt-BISS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) GREYMOUTB, April 4. It is reported that the State coalminers, at a meeting held this morning, decided not to return to work. The men at Blackball and Paparoa also decided to "down tools." There will be 110 work to-morrow at these mines. From what can be learned, indications point to the strike becoming general, and it is feared that it is likely to continue. One authority states that what the State miners decide ultimately, the Blackball and Paparoa men will follow. A leading member of the union has left for Westport. Another reliable authority states that the men hare now added to the cause for striking tho Full Court's decision in the appeal cases of Scmple and others. WEST COAST ACCUSED REMANDED TO AUCKLAND. (PBESs ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) NELSON, April 4. Ivan Arbuckle, John Winward, and Thomas Hilson, who were arrested on the West Coast yesterday, were brought before the Magistrate's Court here this afternoon on charges of conspiracy in contravention of the "War Regulations Act. Oa tho application of the police the accused were remanded to appear at Auckland on April '(Llth. WESTPORT MINES WORKING. (PRESS ASSOCIATION- TELEGRAM.) WESTPORT, April 4. Tho coal miners in this district are working as usual. THE HUNTLY ARRESTS. ACCUSED REFUSED BAIL. AUCKLAND, April 4. The miners- arrested at Huntly appeared at the Court at Auckland this morning and were remanded till Tuesday, when a further remand will be asked for. The cases will probably be heard at Huntly on April Bth. Bail was refused. CONDEMNATION OF THE "GO SLOW" POLICY. STATEMENT BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. GOVERNMENT DETERMINED TO SECURE COAL. (BFICIAX TO "TH* T>RX£«."i DUNEDIN, April 4. Speaking to a deputation to-day on the subject of the curtailment of the railway services, Sir James Allen said tho railways were great users of coal. It was not for him to put any stress upon tho question of tho coal but ho would say this: "Tho Government are determined—tho Government aro solidly determined—to do everything they can to do away with tho pernicious habit that is getting into tho country of men woi'king slow. 1 have good reason to believe that the 'go slow' policy exists in some coal mines in this country, but I want to say that some of tho miners aro sensible to the fact that nothing can be more disastrous than that tho men of this country should not see tho absolute folly of adopting tho policy of going slow at a timo when every worker should give of hi s jbest all the time. (Hear, hear.) Such a policy in the long run must ruin tho men's wages and interests and ruin tho country. So with all tho force at my command I impress upon tho public mind the absolute necessity for tho public directing themselves against the folly of workers adopting a 'go slow' policy in order to induce changes in conditions and pay. That is not the way to secure desired changcs. It is going to do the very opposite. The Government are bound to put it down, and we hope tho country will back up tbo Government." (Hear, hear.) Tho Minister went oa to say that the "go slow" policy had resulted in a considerable amount less coal being given to the railways. The Government had endeavoured to get coal from outside the Dominion, and he cited the fact that on the occasion of an acute shortage some time ago, the Government had secured a fair amount of eoal from outside. That was stored for contingencies for tho transports and for the mercantile marine. An effort had been made to get coal from Australia, but the question of transport was the difficulty. He assured the public that if tho worst came to the worst through the 'go slow' policv the Government woudl not hesitate to use whatever means they deemed advisable to secure further supplies of jcoal from outside in order to provide suffieie.nt for our transports and mercantile marine and fo r running a reasonable railway service.

It is the Grevmouth Harbour Board (not the "VYest.port Harbour Board) which has decided, owinpr to the falling revenue, due mainly to the lack of coal, caused by the "go slow" policy, to close down the dredge till the revenue improves.