WELLINGTON’S COAL CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON’S COAL CRISIS.

A COMPLETE HOLD-UP

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, August 2d

I The coal crisis continues. The position could hardly he more serious. The cutting off of gas and electric supplies has paralysed numerous industries. Operatives who went to work this m'odning were told that the factories could not run, as no main power was available. Hundreds of men, women, and young people are consequently unemployed to-day and not knowing 'when they will be called back to work. The pumping, plants connected with thy. supply of water to the high levels 'will he run until the present stock of coal is exha,listed. Only ten. tons arcleft. The City Council’s milk depot has sufficient coal for the next seven days and if the supply is not replenished, the authorities will be laced with the problem of how to provide steam and. hot water for cleaning purposes. A special meeting of the City Council was held to-day to consider the situation, but no decision was come to and the meeting adjourned until four o’clock this afternoon in the hope, there will he favourable developments. The Mayor said the holding up of the coal supply could not be justified. The proper course would have been to have gone on with the work and Submitted the matter to the Disputes Committee. There would he no coal for the trams and little for the electric light station. Every effort would be made to keep up the supply of light for the hospital. Tlie Gas Company states the'y will be quite unable to resume the supply until coal comes to hand. The Executive of the Waterside Workers’ Union met to-day and decided upon a course of action, which .will he put before a meeting of the Union to-morrow morning. Nearly all the steamers in port are idle. Hie only ones being worked are those which commenced.discharging last week.

RESULT OF STRIKE WELLINGTON, August 24. As tlie trams are not running thousands of people were obliged to walk this morning. Some employers provided motor cars for the transport of their hands. There is a, great run on candies, kerosene, oil stoves and wood. There will be no gas for cooking or lighting to-night, hut the City Council hopes to be able to keep the electric: light going for residential premises for the early part of the evening. The Government printing office type-setting machines cannot ho worked owing to the cutting off of the electric power, and the issue of important printed matter is being delayed. It transpires that the dispute regarding payment for the discharge of sujierpliosphates brought by the Japanese steamer was referred to tlie Disputes Committee on Thursday and the decision of the Committee was that the agreement rate 2s 5d per hour should he paid, instead of tlie rate demanded viz 3s and 4s per hour. Hie stoppage of work means a loss of Wages alone of some thousands of pounds per day. Unless power is available, some bakers will be unable to bake any bread tomorrow.

LATEST .REPORT. WELLINGTON, August 24. Although definite information is not available on point, it is understood that there are possibilities of the water,siders resuming work to-morrow. WHARF LABORERS RESUME. WELLINGTON, August 25. Watersiders held a meeting tin's morning to consider wliether they would accept engagement to work the superphosphates cargo in the Japanese steamer. After a lengthy meeting it was decided to take a ballot which resulted in a vote for a return to work. The men will start on the wharves at one o’clock.