THE COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 10

THE COAL CRISIS

WEST COAST BALLOT MAJORITY FOR CONTINUANCE OF STRIKE f ■ t OUTLOOK NOT BRIGHT i x . / . •. ! RETURNING 5 ' . ' , ■ - 1. , By Telegraph.—Press Association. ■ ' Greymouth, April 20. 1 All tlio coal miners' unions on tho » West Coast, wi,th tho exception of tho I Brunneiy tho members of which aro not i on strike, have decided by open ballot ; to continue .the strike against tho Cora- : pulsory Service Act. _ The majority in ■ favour of the motion is said to bo overl whelming. No figures are available.' • AN APPOINTMENT THAT WAS NOT > \ KEPT. OUTLOOK NOT BRIGHT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ' Greymouth, April 12. The miners' delegate wiib had. been conferring with the Buller delegates at Beefton to-day liad an appointmon,t with the Ministers at 9 o'clock. "Up till 10 o'clock they had not put in an appearance. The .Ministers, interviewed, had 110 statement" to make, and will not disclose anything till they reach "Wellington. Botli Sir Jas. Alien and the Hon. W. D. S. Map Donald aro leaving for Christcliurch to-morrow morning. The outlook for_.au early settlement does_ not seem bright. , DELEGATES MEET MINISTERS. Reefton, April 20. A meeting of the coal-mine delegates was held here to-day. No finality was readied, and tlio delegates went on to I Greymouth to further discuss tho matter with the 'Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen) and the Hon. W. D. S. MacDonakl. ACTING-PRIME MINISTER COURTEOUSLY RECEIVED. _ Oreymouth, April 20. Sir James Allen says he was courteously' received in addressing meetings of Ho believes his visit Tvill good result. , NO. (,'OMPKOMISE . STRIKE-SPEECHES AT GREY- ; MOUTH. Y Creymouth, April 20. . At a meeting of tho Greymouth Labour Party Branch in connection Iwith tho, municipal elections, Messrs. | O'Brien and O'Rourke, speaking on behalf. of tho coal-miners, stated thero was a strike against tho Compulsory Service Act, and so far as tho miners wero' concerned thero would be no compromise whatever. They (tho speakers) asked for • support and co-operation in a. practical way, indicating that tlio miners themselves could only hold out for five months without outsido assistance, but if the people wanted the Act v repealed it was "up to them" to back up tho miners, who were called upon to do the -work of tho people. Mr. P, C. "Webb, M.P., at the same meeting stated that, although the minors, of Now iZealand aro 17 per cent. ; less in numbers than prior to the -war, the output was 25 per cent, more, and tho output per miner was a world's record'. ~ The meeting passed a resolution of 1 sympathy with tlio miners, and calling on the Government to repeal tlio Act.

STRIKE BALLOT.AT HUNTLY MAJORITY FOR CONTINUANCE OF WORK ' '.-. ': Auckland, April 20. The Huntly miners to-day took a ballot on'the question of striking. The voting was: : In favour '.....,.: 115 For continuance of work 122 Majority for continuance 7 The mine will not be working on Monday owipg to repairs. IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT Asfiburton, April 20. At a special meeting of tho Ashbiirton Council to-tlay it was unanimously resolved: "That this'council views with great disfavour the action of the miners in their endeavour to hamper tho Government at this critical time, and will support the Government in any steps it may deem necessary to take in restoring order." INTER-ISLAND TRADE AFFECTED ) ChristchurcJi, April 20. There is practically nothing offering in the ; wheat market, and very few oats are coming forward. Tho curtailment of the railway and steamer services is expected to interfere considerably with trade with ths North Island. This is especially the caso with potatoes, for which Auckland is the principal market for the South Island. The price for potatoes is still nominally £4 at country stations, at which price purchases have been made during the week, but the merchants say that it is doubtful if further buying will be done to any extent until the shipping service is resumed wi'nb 'AiVclflanilO The grain and produce market generally is very quiet. , . THE POSITION IN AUCKLAND SERIOUS 5 SITUATION TO BE .FACED By Telegraph.—Press Association. ' Auckland, April 20. The Auckland Gas Company,-which supplies lighting to practically the whole of the residential portion of the city and, the' suburbs, notifies by advertisement in the local papers that it has in stock, only .enough coal to keep up the supply of gas for threo weeks at the present rate of consumption; consequently tho company appeals to consumers to exercise tho most rigid economy in tho use. of gas.' It is pointed out that the cessation of the supply of gas would mean that in Auckland alono 13,000 people would be unable io cook their food and 29,000 houses would be left in darkness, while many industries dependent upon gaSpower would have to close down. The coal market is practically bare. Only small doles from.' the yards to customers are now possible; Tho Electric Tramways Company has sufficient.stocks of coal on hand to hist until the'end-of next week, when, unless, further supply becomes available, the'tramwaya will be compelled to cease working entirely.' A slight restriction in the service has already Ijccu introduced. : . Tlie Tramway Company's supply of coal will be exhausted by next Saturday, and unless a delivery istmade by then the service will cease.