ADMIRALTY COLLIERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1917, Page 3

ADMIRALTY COLLIERS.

Delay In UnloadingMinister Appeals To MenWellington, Jan 19 Serious delay iu unloading an Admiralty collier was the subject of an address by the Minister of Labor r (the Hon W. H. H' rries) on the Queen’d Wharf to two or three hundred men this afternoon. Ttie Minister said he had heard eo mauy rumours going about in regard to the shipment of coal that he thought it dis duty to put the fac's plainly before them. He did not want to mince matters or conceal anything. He wanted to be perfectly frank.

‘* First of all,” he said, “ I want to tell you straight that this is an Admiralty collier, ebart/ red by the Admiralty. As you will know Admiralty colliers are practically on time-table and the Imperial Government cannot stand any delay in the discharge of Admiralty colliers. The position is entirely different from positions that occasionally occur between shipping companies and you. The Government of New Zealand is being naked why the collier is being delayed. It may be of the utmost importance that the collier should be rel-jated. The Government is faced with this position: we must get the coal from somewhere. We are engaged in the biggest war ever known in history, and we are boußd to fulfil our engagements in carrying Home men and produce. Let ub accept the position. We have to look to the, future. Just before the end of the strike in Australia wo approached the Admiralty and asked if they had any coal cargoes to spare. They replied after some time that they had certain cargoes to spare and would direct them to some to New Zealand.

“The cargoes had come,” said the Minister, ‘‘and there were three others to cotne. A rumor had gone about thr.t the Government had brought in the coal to defeat the miners ou the West Coast. They wautecl every ounce of coal the West Coast miners could produce.” We will take every ounce of it and we don’t want to barrage the West Coast miners in any way whatever. If they don’t produce enough we must gat coil from outside. If yon can tell me how wo can get shipa to got coal from Newcastle or even from the West Coast I aball be only too glad. A Voice : The Union Company. The Minister: We have most of the ships of the Union Company, A Voice : And you are paying them well.

The Minister: Yon have to pay well in these days. We have to pay an enormous sum in demurrage, which adds to the cost of coal. What are we going to do with it ? A Yoice ; Rqa it back.

The Minister : What 11 the use of rnnoing it back vvhsa ws went it for oar own ships ? A Voie6 : They won't take it. The Min ster : They have to take i*, it is admiralty coil and good steani'cg eoal. We are no 1 going to store it, as has bsen suggested, to u*e in case of a strike. It won't store, it will only perish. The only thing to do is to use it tfc oi C 9. Now, I want to put this poi- 1 before you as men ; [ ha;9 been perfectly open with you, have been endeavoring to show yoe. that there was a real shortage of ooal and that we had to get coal anyhow. Joat bifotc Christmas (he R-.ilway Department a'.ould have had a large tom age of coii from tba West Coast. We had to give a large quantity towards supplying transpoitn and other ships go : ng Home and go short onrPelves,

The Government was bound to unload the coal within a certain time and he hoped to have the watersidera’ assistance. “We don’t want to go outside if vie oan possibly help it,” he said. The Government was not buying and selling coal. It was being need for Imperial worts, oxcept that portion of one cargo *?ai used on the railways. 1 hey did not wans to use ir, es it was cot v»cy suitable. “Tsi., is no: c.n ordinary dispute a shipping noinpauy and younftdhe weui on. “In those disputes ion Gov stands ecuteal. i ucdarotand that your executive is going to have an interview wito the shippin r companies and other repre amative* with reference to your wages. The Government ha 3 no intention of interfering. We stand uontrel there, bul this question i* one that, brings you straight out against the Government and the Imperial Government as well.” x Mr W. Bennett (manager of the Waterside Employment Bureau) who presided, said the Minister would answer questions.

There was a storm of them and lively dialogues lasted some time. Some questions suggested that New Zealand mines could produce all the coal re* qaiied if they were worked to the full extent. A Voice: Let those meD you’ve pat in gaol out, and we’il talk about working the coal. Another persistent interrogation was “What proposition do you put before os?” “That you tarn to and work her at

one o’clock.” “On any conditions ?” ** “On the conditions of your agreement.” A Voice: ‘ ‘Do you want us to be called * rcabs ’ all over Australia ?” Mr Herries : “Has Australia told you anything ?” “Yes, something that yon don’t know.” Mr Bennett announced that a suggestion had been made that the matter shoald be referred to the Disputes Committee. He had put that before representatives of the shipowners and union officials, and they appeared to be agreeable to it. Were the men agreeable ? There were signs of approval and dissent. Same members wished to submit motions but Mr Bennett refused to take them. The Minister had given them his explanation to remove misunderstanding and had answered their questions faiily. Finally Mr Curtice, president of the nnioD, announced that a meeting would b 8 held to-morrow morning to coneider the matter, i