THE GREAT COAL STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2913, 8 November 1916, Page 5

THE GREAT COAL STRIKE

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING CRISIS ; . ■■ j COMPANIES CUTTING DOWN , j SERVICES . j A STATE PROBLEM By Telegraph-Press As&ooiation-Oojiyrltrlrt Sydney, November 7. i Owing to tli© likelihood of being unable to fulfil'contracts as the result of ; ■; the coal strike, the inter-State ship- ! ping companies are refusing to issue return tickets to Melbourne. , Shipping at Newcastle has largely been paralysed, all the trading steam- ... ■ ers being hung up. The crew of the steamer Atua, which should have de-. parted for Fiji to-day, have been paid' off. Melbourne, November 7. Besides the Tasmanian service, preparations are being made to cut all other inter-State services to the lowest limit to save coal. Brisbane, November 7. As a result of the coal strike three coastal steamers have already been paid off. Several others will be Idla unless thero is an early settlement. The tramway services have been curtailed. CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS AT MELBOURNE FEDERAL OR SIUIE CONTROL? Sydney, November 7. The Minister of Industry, (the Hon* 'J. Astell) has left for Melbourne to confer with the Federal Ministers on the question of co-ordinated action regarding the coal strike. The question of_ Federal or State control having arisen, Ministers have agreed to load ■ and coal transports. . Five thousand workers are idle as , the result of the closing of confection- . ers' shops and the Dunlop Rubber Company's works. NO IMPROVEMENTS THE.SITTJ- ■ ATION. (Rcc, November 7,10.20 p.m.) Sydney, November 1. There is no improvement ia.the coal! crisis, which is already affecting the industries. The number of unemployed is increasing. The bijg engineering works are slowing dow.n, and other fac- . tones are working half-time.