COAL STRIKE ENDED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3061, 24 April 1917, Page 8

COAL STRIKE ENDED

— > : ; MINES OPEN TO-MORROW, ' THE "GO-SLOW" POLICY ABANDONED NO'COMPROMISE ON MILITARY SERVICE ACT

By Telegraph—Press Assooiatilpn. Creymouth, April 23. The strike has ended. All the mines will start work again on Wednesday, though it is not known what the new conditions, If any, are. It is understood that the division was taken by the men with satisfactory result. Runanga voted for return to work by 178 to 80. "CO SLOW" POLICY ABANDONED. Christchurch, April 23. The manager of the Westport-Stock-ton Coal Company received a telegram to-night from the mine manager at Stockton stating that the men there held a meeting to-day~and decided to start work on Wednesday, and abandon the "go slow" policy. This is a complete reversal of the Stockton men's attitude, for In the ballot taken recently they decided unanimously in favour of striking. The decision of the Stockton men leads the coal company , officials here to believe that the miners at Millerton and Denniston, in view of their latest ballot figures, will also decide to resume work. RUMOUR CONCERNING IMPRISONED MEN. Westport, April 23. At meetings of miners at Denniston, Millerton, and Stockton to-day, It was decided to resume work on Monday. It is understood this is the result of the conference between the Ministers and the miners' delegates. 'it is stated that the imprisoned men will be released, but no definite information as to this is available. The deoision to return to work was unanimous at Denniston, and was carried by a large majority at the other centres'. ' •. STATEAND BLACKBALL MEN PREPARED TO RETURN TO WORK WAITING RESULT OF WESTPORT .:. ■ MEETING. Bj Telegraph.—Press Association. Creymouth, April 23. It is now cTelhiitely announced that tlie State and Blackball miners are prepared to return to work, and are only awaiting the . result of the Westport miners' meeting. OFFICIAL STATEMENT DELAYED SIR JAMES ALLEN AWAITING COMMUNICATION. The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), in answer to a question regarding the terms of the- settlement, told a. dominion reporter last night that he could not say anything on the subject at the present stage. He had discussed various aspects or' the situation with the miners' delegates during his visit to the West Coast last week/; and before returning to Wellington had substantial ground for hoping that a settlement of a kind that the Government could accept would be reached. .He had learned-during the evening that the miners intended to resume work, but he had not yet received their formal acceptance of the arrangement that had been discussed. Until: he heard from the miners' delegates on' the point he would net be in a position to make any further- statement. MILITARY SERYICE ACT MAINTA INED GOVERNMENT HAS' STOOD FIRM. It is understood that the terms on which the miners have decided to re-, snme work do not include any concession at all as far as the Military Service Act is concerned. The Government has stood firm in support of the Act throughout the negotiations, and has made it clear, to all concerned that compulsory service is neoessary for the fulfilment of New Zealand's obligation to the Empire and to her own troops at the front. The Ministers were prepared to uphold the Act against any attack that might be made upon it. . IN THE CITY THE RUSH FOR FUEL. • The public of Wellington have not yet taken fright about the threatened coal trouble, but prudent house managers have been making some preparations for possible inconvenience ahead. There have been heavy purchases, for instance, of kerosene and of kerosene lamps and stoves, .against the time when there may be no. gas or electric light. The worst effect the shortage of coal is likely to have will he in industries., for there are few industries which do not depend more or less directly on coal. These effects' have not yet begun -to appear. . While there is still some prospect of the strike ending, the controllers of industries will bo unwilling to make any radical changes in their methods of doing business. The Gas Company appealed to their consumers on Saturday to be as eco- ; nomical as possible in the use of gas, but inquiries made yesterday were met by the answer that there has been no reduction in consumption of gas, but rather an increase. It is suggested that householders who have smaH stocks of coal are conserving it and" doing all their cooking with gas. It is not possible .to obtain coal From' any of tho local yards. Their stocks arc very low; and such coal as is in stock has already been ordered many times ovor: The stock oE coko at tho Miramar gasworks is also oxhaustcd, but there arc supplies of small coke. Tho City Council has already purchased 800 tons of this fuel for tho furnaces in the tramways powerhouse, and tho Eastbourno Borough Council has bought a large quantity for use on the ferry steamers.

At Petone the consumption of gas has increased, just a.s it has in Wellington, and the reasons ascribed are tho same. It is stated'that the Petono and Hutt Councils have enough fuel to keep the sewerage, works going for.a safe period.. ' .' SUPPORT FROM MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD At a meeting of the Merchant Service Guild of Australasia (New Zealand Section) held yesterday, over which Captain Atwood presided, the following resolution was unanimously otrriedi — : 'Thab this . representative

meeting of the masters and officers of the "Merchant' Service Guild of Australasia (New Zealand Section) expresses its condemnation of the action of the coal miners striking at this present juncture, when the life of the nation is at stake, and will heartily support tho Government, in whatever action it may take in the matter." PHONE PROPOSALS

A meeting of Petone business people to consider the present position in regard to tho coal and gas supplies was held in the council chambers yesterday afternoon. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) presided. The meeting passed' a resolution, expressing sympathy with the Government in the present crisis arising out of the miners' strike, and also expressing a hope that tho miners will shortly come to-regard the mattter in a more reasonable light. Other resolutions were adopted by way of proposals to the husiness community for economy in the nse of coal and gas. It was decided to invite those who'usually close their establishments at 6 p.m. to close them at ■5 p.m., and those who- usually close later than 7 p.m. to close at 7 p.m. now. Fruiterers, confectioners, proprietors of the lounge hare and similar businesses willjbe asked to close at 8 p.m. on four nights of the week, at 10.30 p.m. on Fridays, and! at 11 p.m. on' Saturdays. A committee was appointed with a view to securing the adoption of the proposals by all the- business people in Petone. POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH BUSINESS MEN DISCUSS OUT- , LOOK. Christchurch, April 23. Unless tho strike is called off soon the position in respect to many local manufactories will become acutely serious. Generally speaking, few of the local manufacturing businesses carry very large surplus stocks of coal, and unless the stocks they have in hand can be replenished shortly, and replenished regularly, they will have no other course than to close down. As one foundry manager put it today:. "The people don't half recognise what tho shortage of coal means. We may have famine in two or three weeks' time."

At P. and D. Duncan's foundry, twenty-six men have received notice of suspension, to talse effect on Thursday, and the hours at the foundry have been rcdxiced to thirty-nino per week from forty-seven". Both these steps have been taken for tho purpose of husbanding the stocks of coal and coke in hand. Only work absolutely required- will be done. A similar stato of affairs exists at Scott Bros.' foundry.

The shortage of shipping is likely to materially affect regular supplies of sugar. For some time past the confectionery works in Christchurch have been getting very irregular supplies, and the probability is that with shipments becoming more irregular it will be-necessary to close down. . ■ Should the strike continue for an extended period, Christchurch Hospital will be. brought faco to face with a very serious position. The institution consumes a largo quantity of coal in connection with heating,' lighting,, washing, drying, cooking, and sterilising. For a considerable time past it has been found impossible to obtain supplies in sufficient quantities to establish a rcsorve, the coal forthcoming being sufficient only to meet immediate requirements. The hospital, therefore, 'being without a reserve-stock, will probably be'among the first of the.Canterbury consumers to feel, tho pinch. The Tramways Board has a reserve, and has generously consented to lend a quantity that will meet requirements for a few weeks. INDIGNANT FARMERS REPLY TO A LABOUR STATEMENT.. ._■:,.' Core, April 23. A large meeting of farmers on Saturday passed a resolution indignantly repudiating a statement by Mr. O'Byrne in the "Maoriland Worker" that "down in Southland there is an extraordinary development of opposition to the idea of conscription remaining on the Statute Book, and almost every 'farmer there is a-sympathiser with f-ho miners." The meeting urged the Government to subdue the strike, and pledged its support. , AN INVERCARGILL RESOLUTION : By Telegraph—Press Association. Invercargill, April 23. t ' A public meeting to-night discussed the coal strike. There was an overflowing attendance. , The Mayor presided. The following motion was carried with enthusiasm. There appeared to be one dissentient, but the vote was practically unanimous. The audience rose spontaneously, and sang the National Anthem. The motion was: "That this public meeting of citizens of Invercargill and surrounding districts deplores the continuance of the coal strike, and pledges itself to support the National Government in giving effect -to any measures that may be deemed necessary to deal with the present national crisis." A PERTINENT INQUIRY AND THE ANSWERS. In ■. yesterday's Dominion, "Citizen" wrote that it would be interesting at the present acute juncture in -,tho affairs' of the Dominion to know tho feelings of the Labour candidates who wish to occupy seats upon our public bodies. The point interested our evening contemporary, which yesterday sought out Hie gentleman concerned, , with interesting, results. Mr. H. E. Holland (our contemporary states) was reticent. Ho did say though that his own opinion was that it was the duty of Parliament to meet immediately and repeal tho Conscription Act. This, he held, was the only way out of tho present difficulty, apart from the miners' strike altogether, in view of the widespread industrial unrest throughout the Dominion. Mr. J. Glover endorsed the view expressed "by. Mr. Holland.

Mr. James M'Kenzie, chairman of tho Labour Representation Committee, stated that the strike was entirely a matter outside municipal politics. Labour had not boon consulted by the miners, and' ho was not prepared to state his attitude.

Mr. E. Kennedy, secretary of the Labour Representation Committee, also held that the strike was citside muni-

oipal politics, but ho mado a personal statement. ■ "I know no more about the coal strike I glean from the publio Press, from which it appears that the miners havo st/Uck against conscription. The Acting-Prime Minister and Minister of Mines, according to the Press, have visited the Coast, and have agreed that a secret ballot of the miners should be taken on. the question of whether tliey should continue the strike for the purpose for which they came out or should return to work. It appears to mo that there is a great public feeling against the Conscription Act, and I should like to know if the Prime Minister is prepared to give tho people of New Zealand the opportunity to take a sccret ballot for the repeal of tho Act as the miners have done on the question of a settlement." Mr. J. Head, president of the Trades Council, said he could not see tho remotest connection between the strike and the municipal elections. "Personally," he added; "I am not surprised at a large section of the public resenting being browbeaten and governed by regulations which have never in any way been submitted to the people. The Government makes its new laws by regulation, and refusos to permit the expression tof view 6 wliicS do not coincide with its own." END OF THE STRIKE (To the Editor.) Sir, —To my mind the Government are, to blame to a great extent for the present' strike. From the very commencement of tho war members have held that" if a German is naturalised he is a British subject. He may be in name, hut that is as far as it goes. Wo must remember that Germany has been organising for this war for many years, and naturally she saw to it that her subjects throughout the British Empire were naturalised; anyway, those she

Mr. J. Head, president of the Trades Council, said he could not see tho remotest connection between the strike and the municipal elections. "Personally," ho added; "I am not surprised at a large section of the public resenting being browbeaten and governed by regulations which have never in any way been submitted to the people. The Government makes its now laws by regulation, and thenrefusosto permit the expression tof view 6 whicK do not coincide with its own." END OF THE STRIKE (To the Editor.) Sir,—To my mind the Government are, to blame to a great extent for the present' strike. From the very commencement of tho war members have held that" if a German is naturalised he is a British subject. Ho may be in name, but that is as far as it goes. Wo must remember that Germany has been organising for this war for many years, and naturally she saw to it that her subjects throughout the British Empire were naturalised; anyway, those she wanted to make use of were. And that is our trouble now. These men are treated indiscriminately as Britishers, but all tho time there are amongst them Germans doing Germany's work. It is only natural, too, for if we wore in Germany we would endeavour _ to hamper Germany and help the Allies. Wo must awaken to the fact that this is so, and either intern all Germans or put them in such a position that they would be harmless. We cannot afford to take risks, and tho Government should see to it that we do not. The Sinn Feinors were also fairly strong on the West Coast, and with these two elements it is-no wonder we have dis- i order. . It is not too late to grapple with the question even yet, and,if the Government moves determinedly and quickly it would have, the support of all right-thinking people throughout the Dominion.—lam, etc., AN OLD WEST COASTER. ALLEGED SEDITIOUS ACTIVITY RUNANGA MINER IN COURT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, April 23. Alfred . William Coleman, a miner from R-unauga, arrested last week in the Green Island district on a charge of'inciting a seditious strike.and remanded; appeared in the Police Court this morning. Prosecuting counsel said the police at Dunedin, becoming aware that accused, who had recently come from Runanga,, where a .strike had been in progress for some, time, intended to hold a meeting at Green Island,'a detective and a constable went to Fairfield, where they saw the accused and four other men enter the local schoolhouse. Accused addressed them, and, as a result of what he said, was arrested. Accused was convicted, but remanded for a week for sentence, to allow of inquiries being made as to his antecedents.