THE COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 113, 6 February 1919, Page 6

THE COAL CRISIS

NO OUTPUT AT BLACKBALL

OUTLOOK FOR LOCAL

SUPPLIES

Private advices received in Wellington yesterday were that the miners went below at the Blackball mine on Tuesday, and produced during the day not a single ounce of coal. On Monday they produced 160 tons, instead of the normal output of about '150 tons. TvTien approached about the matter the secreTary of the Coal-mine Owners' Association (Mr. AY. Pryor) said that he'had telegraphed to the secretary of the Blackball Union and to the vice-president of the Miners' Federation, the president being absent in Australia, calling upon them to respect the agreement made, by which all such disputes should be referred to the Disputes Committee before there is any cessation of work. '".' MESSAGE FROM THE COAST Tip. "FLAT SHEET" DISPUTE. By Telegraph—PreßS Association. Greymouth, February 5. As the result of a meeting of Blackball miners on Sunday, when differences with the management over the interpretation of the award were discussed,. the conl output at the mine during the last few days has practically ceased. The differences' cover several points. in the award. One refers.to the use of "flat sheets" in trucking, the miners contending that their use,, hitherto was customary. •This matter is not provided for by the award. The trouble is purely local, as the. Blackball agreement differs from those in other mines as regards the disputed points." It is understood that the Miners' Federation Executive has advised the Blackball Union to continue work, and submit the dispute to a local disputes com-, roiitc-e representing the management and -the men. In the meantime, however, 'whiie all the men have been going to work as usual, there has been little or no output cj coal. FOR LOCAL NEEDS. ~ , A deputation from the.local Coal Dealers' Association waited on the Hon. Arthur Myers, Minister of Munitions and Supplies, requesting that if possible a larger allocation of coal be made for household requirements, as dealers were not getting sufficient 6upp)ies at present to keep them going. Mr. Myers, in reply, stated that arrangements had already been made to release 400 tons from the Eaitengata tomorrow for the domestic requirements of Wellington and suburbs, . Regarding future 'supplies, the Minister said that 1000 tons,of Newcastle coal would probably be available within the next month,'and in the meantime he hoped that sufficient coal would be received from the West Coast to tide over the present difficulties of householders.