COAL TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1923, Page 3

COAL TROUBLE.

STATE AND CO-OPERATIVE COAL

Yesterday afternoon at (Ireymouth, coa.l was coming in in the usual quantities from Reef ton. Rewanui, the James mines and the numerous co-operative mines. A fair quantity of coal was going to Christchurch and the rest was to await shipment. Several ships are due in port to load coal for northern and East Coast ports. No coal is coming from the Blackball and Ron mines. The co-operative miners are still keeping up their normal output- and it is extremely unlikely that it can increase as prior to the present trouble the men were working their hardest. WESTPORT REPORT. [hv telegraph—rru press association.]

WESTPORT. Sep. IP. The strike position is unaltered and matters are quiet at the mining townships. The Butler Unions are preparing a campaign for financial assistance, and delegates have been appointed to visit the North and South Islands and Australia for the purpose. The “ Westport News” says: “Aline owners are not very sanguine about the future. They have had some difficulty in securing markets for the coal, and were hopeful that they would he able to retain those they at present hold, hut they now forsee the impossibility ol doing this with their mines closed and Newcastle mines working at lever heat to re "a in the lost markets. .Attention was railed to a list of city papers m which mention was made of vessels having arrived with large cargoes ot Newcastle coal, of others due to arrive and of other vessels leaving with Inrther supplies for the New Zealand markets.”

THE IDLE -MEN. . Although all the men engaged m mining on the West Coast are not involved in the trouble, it is estimated that there arc over a thousand idled. The number affected is stated roughly to be as follows: —Ngakawiiu 2TO; Ah - let ton 500; Denniston 300 • Bhiekba 100- Roa 76; total 1210. Tins total, however, does not include e„ginc-dm-crs. deputies, and carponteis. "ho probably number anothcr_l£L