COAL LOCK-OUT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 June 1929, Page 4

COAL LOCK-OUT

SYDNEY GAS RESTRICTIONS. SYDNEY, Juno 11. Though the gas restrictions in the city, will be continued to-day, the position is. more hopeful', i The Manager of the Australian •Gaslight Company, torday slated that . so good had been the public response to the appeals for economy that lie was hopeful that the restrictions might be made less severe than yesterday. COAL ORDERS FOR N.Z. , SYDNEY, June IJ. The curtailment of the Sydney City gas supply is having a ropoub effect in the hospitals, where the food is being prepared under difficult es at improvised fireplaces out of dnois. A number of small industries .are closing down next week, in consequence of their < being unable to procure coal. Firewood supplies arriving in tho city to-day rose three shillings per ton. The shipping companies ar y alarmed at the prospect of a complete coal stoppage next week. Inter-Staic

, shipping services will have to stop within ton days. . The Metropolitan Gas Company of Melbourne and the South Australian railways, are already co-operating by ordering one hundred and fifty thousand tons of coal from abroad It is likely that substantial orders will be placed in New Zealand. GAS RESTRICTIONS. PICKETING SPREADING. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, June 12. Gas restrictions proclaimed in Sydney yesterday fixed the hours for the use of Australian Gaslight Company’s gas with exemptions for eertain classes of public consumers and £SOO penalty j for non-compliance. . 1 1(1 1 It is announced that special efforts . / will be made to improve the position. / Electricity restrictions are unneces- \ sary. The combined Unions Advisory Committee meeting this morning is not expected to save a-general coal stoppage. However,, a number off unions are opposed to the plans of the engine drivers for the closing of all pits, believing this will mean the immediate collapse of the dispute, mainly because the strike levies will cease. Picketing is about to spread to Newcastle fields. Threats have been made of action against men who are getting l coal underground at KillingwortTT and /% Seaham collieries, { ’’