BRITISH COAL CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 194, 12 May 1921, Page 5

BRITISH COAL CRISIS

ACUTE SITUATION REACHED

FEARS OF A TRANSPORT STRIKE

CABINET DECIDES ON RESOLUTE ACTION

By Telegraph -Press Association— Copyright

London, May 10.

The coal situation Tins reached such an acute stage that the Australian Press Agency learns on high authority that it may be necessary to mobilise the nation within seventy-two hours to cope with the position.

The Transport Workers’ executive had a four hours’ discussion this afternoon regarding the Scottish dockers’ demand for a general strike, and also to decide whether to support the ban on sea-uorne coal. The executive decided io continue its policy and tighten the embargo on coal likely to defeat the miners. The resolution declares: “To us as unionists sending foreign coal to Britain is morally the same as if the Government imported blacklegs to work the mines. We cannot be parties to handling this coal. We are consulting the railwaymen to render the blockade even more effective.”

Meanwhile a Cabinet meeting decided on the most resolute action in connection with coal for public utility services. Volunteers to-day iare unloading seaborne coal at London, Glasgow, and Yarmouth under' police protection. The Glasgow blockage of London has been successfully broken. The Greenwich power station, which serves the London trams, alone uses 3600 tons weekly. When the barges arrived at Grenwich to-day the cranemen refused to work, and were instantly dismissed. Volunteers tnok their places, and the unloading of the coal was completed. It is authoritatively stated that large consignments are on the way from America. It is quite practicable to import milions of tons from America alone. The municipalities of Brighton, Folkestone. and other - seaside resorts are biking steps to obtain supplies of foreign coal direct, which will be unloaded and distributed by volunteer labour. The seaside resorts are '.losing great sums weekly owing to the absence of visitors. Meanwhile, fresh conversations hav* commenced among the Labour leaders to see if the miners can be assisted to discover a new basis of negotiations.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable, Assn.

A STORMY3IEETING TRANSPORT WORKERS, AT . VARIANCE. (Rec. May 11, 5.5 p.m.)

London, May 10.

The ".Daily Express” says: "The transporters’ meeting was stormy, and there was a great divergence of opinion. The relations between Messrs. Williams and Cramp ars also exceedingly strained. Mr. Cramp is beginning to realise that Im has landed himself in an extremely awkward mess as national leader in Mr. Thomas’s absence. He is not sure of his executive or men. It is probable that Mr. Cramp and some of his executive will seek an interview with Sir Erie Geddes to-day.”—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

OMINOUS STATEMENTS

MELANCHOLY SITUATION.” London, May 10.

Speaking at the Stationers’ Hall, at the luncheon tendered to Mr. W. M’Pherson (Treasurer of Victoria), Mr. Winston Churchill (Secretary of Stale for the Colonies) dealt with the seriousness of the coal situation, which, it was clear, could not continue indefinitely. The streets of the great industrial centres were crowded with tho workless. It was a melancholy situation that our rivals and late enemies, and even our friends, were actively pressing forward to take advantage of Britain’s follies. Even, coal, which was necessary to maintain the life of our great cities, was now menaced and made the object of continuous attack. He was confident that a good outcome would be reached for all parties eventually. We were at. a bad point at the present moment, calling for efforts similar to those when our lives were menaced in 1914. Tho community was greater than any section, and could not be ruled by any section. The nation must assert itself, but when it had asserted itself it must show it does not wish to triumph over-any section. Wo should remember, the part the miners played in the war. No vindictive triumph should enter into tho settlement.

In view of Mr. Churchill’s ominious statements at the luncheon to Mr. M’Pherson, the newspapers -regard the possibility of a transport strike as most serious.

The railway extremists, taking advantage of the absence of Mr. Thomas in America to try for a stoppage by both rai Iwaymen and transporters, believe they will have the full support of tho unions if they are suspended or discharged for assisting the miners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE MINERFDESIRE TO GET OUT OF TILE TROUBLE. (Bee. May 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 10. Mr. Smith, /one of the miners’ leaders, speaking at a mass meeting in Yorkshire. said that though they could not abandon their principles, 'the miners wanted to get out of the trouble, but would not crawl out. If anything were put forward which they thought they could accept, the executive would not hesitate to take a ballot. It is expected that the railwaymen’s executive, will meet on Friday to decide their attitude in connection with foreign coal. Railwaymen in all parts of tho North of England are urging the executive to call a national stoppage for Sun-day.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. USE OF OIL FUEL MANUFACTURERS DO WITHOUT COAL. (Rec. May 11, 5.5 p.m.) London, May 10. Manufacturers in the Midlands are attempting to subslitiie oil for coal. It is cheaper to handle, but hitherto has been too dear. Now that tho price of oil has been halved it will rival coal. The stoppage of the output of coal has given oil a start which will not bo easily won back. All over the country boilers are being converted, and the results are better than expected. Tho London County Council announce that they are adapting the machinery of: the Greenwich power station in order tn use oil fuel instead, of coal for I hr; trams. Tho change will commence at Whitsuntide.

Six railway companies, including Ihe North Western, Great Western, and Metropolitan, are converting their locomotives to use oil fuel instead of coal. This can be done in four days. A ton of crude petroleum will doi the work of two tons of coal. Tim cost of conversion is .£3OO per loi-omolive.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.