COAL TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1921, Page 4

COAL TROUBLE

STATEMENT BY PH EM I.EH

t uv TELKGIUPH— PKK IMtESS ASSOCIATION j

AUCK'LANI), Jan. 2(5

T!ie position in regard to the sale of coal by the Government concerning which there has been a certain amount of adverse criticism, was explained by the Prime Minister to-day., Asked whether it was correct that the Government had been making profit out of the sale of coal, Mr Massey said it was not. “We cannot always sell at a lower price per ton than we paid for it,” he said, “but when we sell coal we do so a long way below the average cost of it. It may be mentioned tlpit we have arranged for a considerable quauiiL.v of Welsh coal of very good quality, and at a very moderate price compared with most of the. coal we have to purchase outside of the Dominion.”

iMJSItION AT K ATT ANOAT A

DUNEDIN, Jan. 26

The position at Kaitangata mines remains unchanged. A section of the men continue to work, hut the majority remain idle. An effort by the Union to meet the Company as a District Disputes Committee failed, the Company con tending that the matter solely concerned the Union members themselves. BLACKBALL DEA DLOCK. WELLINGTON, Jan. 2fi. The deadlock over the appointment of chairman of the Tribunal, which the I Prime .Minister proposed should inquire into the alleged victimisation of Mr Henderson by the Blackball CoaT Company, continues. Various attempts to assure an agreement between the parties have failed. As far as can be gathered, nothing further was done today. Meantime the miners who are “going slow” are becoming restive, and there is a possibility that they will cease work altogether. The position is said to be critical and serious developments are threatened.