COAL FROM BENGAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1928, 10 December 1913, Page 6

COAL FROM BENGAL.

AN EYE-OPENER FOR STRIKERS. It is common talk that the arrival of coal cargoos in Wellington this week has done moro to open tho eyes of the waterside workers on striko than any other event during the whole of the trouble. A member of tho old watersiders' union told a reporter yesterday that since tho general strike had failed, and tho shearers had refused to tome out, and several unions had rescinded resolutions, which had been passed to yotq funds, the striko leaders had been finding some difficulty in keeping up tho spirits of the men. Now that tho drivers were rushing back to work, and coal boats were arriving in 'Wellington Harbour, thero would probably bo a rush for places on tho wharf, for, if the coal problem was solved, what could tho watersiders hope for? It certainly appears that tho Employers', Farmers', and Citizens' Defenoo Committee have now quite settled tho coal question. Arrangements have been made definitely for supplies to carry tho city over February. The Committeo is not finding any difficulty in getting supplies to cover all essontin] needs, and applications from owners of industries havo now been fully met. Yesterday a cablegram was received, stating that a steamer will leavo Bengal on Friday next, with an additional 8000 tons for tho Dominion. Cargoes are offering in_ plenty from foreign sources, quite independent of Australia.. At the present tinio orders could bo placed for c.i.f. delivery for from 75,000 to 80,000 tons of, coal.