COAL CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1929, Page 6

COAL CRISIS

IN NEW SOUTH WALES. (Australian Press Association) NEWCASTLE, June 9. The approaches to nearly every colliery on the northern fields will ho picketed by thousands of the miners to-morrow morning unless the members of the Colliery Staffs’ Association decide to discontinue their handling of coal. Tile miners are reported to he determined to prevent the winning of coal in any of the closed pits. ..Strong bodies of police have been stationed at the mines in case of emergency. SYDNEY GAS SUPPLY. SYDNEY, June 9. Here is a good quality coal. It is beginning to affect Sydney’s gas supply. This was evident yesterday when the gas source failed through the metropolitan area, which is served by the Australian Gaslight Company. • As tlie result of the stoppage of the Northern coal mines, the Company’s usual supply of coal is cut off, and that which they arc now handling has not produced sufficient to meet requirements. N.Z. RAILWAY MANAGER. ON NEWCASTLE SITUATION. SYDNEY. June 9: Mr IT.. Sterling, General Manager of the New Zealand Railways Department, after a visit to Newcastle, said: “If T w A re looking for coal contracts, Newcastle would bo the last place to which T would come.” Mr Sterling’s visit was one purely of railway instruction, and it had no association with coal matters.