THE COAL STRIKE

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15872, 11 April 1917, Page 6

THE COAL STRIKE

STATEMENT BY SIB JAMES

ALLEN,

APPEAL TO THE MEN ON PATRIOTIC GROUNDS.

(STKCIAI TO "THE FRESJ.") WELLINGTON, April 10. Tho Acting-Prime (Sir James Allen), replying to an enquiry as to whether lie proposed to take any action regarding the coal-miners' strike, said that he intended to communicate with tho men by telegram. "I shall tell them," ho said, "that the. Admiralty wants coal for Admiralty purposes, and I shall ask them to supply it. I want to appeal to these men on patriotic grounds to come back to work to supply the needs of the Admiralty and the needs of the country. It is urgently necessary that coal •should bo available fo r the use of the Navy, for our own transports, and for tho ships of our mercantile marine which take food supplies to the men at tho front. I can't think of any stronger appeal that could be mado to any human beings than that. "I note that the men are demanding tho repeal of the Military Service Act, but it does not seem to mo that tho Act can bo the reason of their present action. If they had such strong objections to the Act thev had had months in which to make their protest. In any caso it seems to mo iJiat thoir action is a very wrong one, because the cutting off of supplies must jeopardise our chances of winning the war. Sureiv tho first duty of every man now is to do his best to help to finish the war. "About the go-slow tactics which are alleged to have been adopted, I do not wish to say anything—it is for tho Court to say whether thero has been any such thing—but if ,it is true that the men have deliberately limited their output, then I say that the go-slow policy seems to mo to bo worse almost than the total cessation of work. 1 can't help saying that I hope most of the men, on reflection, will see that they have taken up a wrong attitude." Replying to a question as to whether tho Government contemplated any immediate action against the men, Sir James Allen said:— "Wo are not out to make threats of severe action; we are out to try to show them their grave responsibility and to ask them to get back to work."

IN THE BULLER DISTRICT. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WESTPORT, April 10. It is not anticipated that there will bo any work at the coal mines in tho Buller district to-morrow, as, even should the miners be willing to turn to, it will take a day at least to make the necessary preliminary preparations for the resumption of work. The discharging of cargo is proceeding as usual at tho waterside. (press association telegram.) , AUCKLAND, April 10. Tho coal miners arrested under ibe War Regulations were brought before the Court to-day, and were further remanded to April 18th.

THE SITUATION LOCALLY. In view of tlie strike of coal-miners on the West Coast the position in the local coal trade is occasioning some serious investigation and consideration both to those in the trade, largo consumers, and the general public. The Stato Coal Depot, under instructions from Wellington, has closed taking orders for further supplies, which means that when the present stocks (already booked up) are exhausted, the depot will be empty. Orders wero being taken lately for delivery as supplies became available, but the present position has put an abrupt stop to that procedure. So far as supplies for the Christchurch Gas Company are concerned the position is not such as. to cause immediate alarm—in fact, any such attitude is deprecated by the general manager, Mr It. C. Bishop. To a "Press" reporter last evening Mr Bishop gaid that tho company had been doing its best to conserve the interests of the public for some time past, and there was no need for immediate concern. The I future, of course, depended upon the miners on the Coast and the length of time that their present attitude would continue. As for the rumour (mentioned to him by the pressman) that the company contemplated raising its price of gas, all he could say was that the matter had not even been before the Board of Directors. Tho Coal Merchants' Association, as a body, has not yet had an opportunity of meeting and formulating a policy m view of the position, and in the meantime individual merchants are not disposed to say much as to tho extent of stocks, etc. It is undoubted, however. that if the strike is lengthy tho public will Tequiro to exercise economy In its consumption of coal.