RAILWAY COAL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1931, Page 3

RAILWAY COAL

A DEPUTATION

AYRAT IS THE REASON?

(By Telegraph—Per Frets AstociaUdn)

AVELLINGTON, Alay 25

A 'dephtiition representing the United Mine Workers’ Federation and tlie Alliance of Labour to-day protested to Mr Forbes against the importation of Atostraiihri coal white the New Zealand mines are not Working full time and whilst many of the miners are idle, or are only intermittently employed. Mr A. McLagan, Secretary of the United Aline Workers’ Federation, said that several vessels, aggregating over twenty thousand tons, had ’ for Australia recently, and they would arrive ivithin the next week. Mr .T. Smeaton President of the Mine Workers’ Federation, s a id that it appeared to him that the Government was importing this coal in order to store it against a possible use of direct action by tlie miners against wages reduction. Mr Jas. Roberts (Secretary of tlfe N.Z. Alliance of Labour), Raid that the Government should have got the coal miners together and have discussed the matter with them.

Mr Forbes, in reply, stated that this: coal was being imported to build i tip the Railway Department’s reserve stocks.

Mr Forbes said that Hon. W. A\ Veitch, who whs absent from Wellington, had 'Written that there was nothing sinister, behind this decision to import Newcastle coal. There was a shortage in the Railway yo.al roSei'v«s, and as Mr Veitch stated, there ; had been inci-easpd supplies of Suitable New Zealand coal Ordered, but, un-foi-tuiiately,: tor i'easons unknown to him, th e . New Zealand mines had been unable to overtake the railway shortage. Accordingly, as a matter of ordinary business prudence, lie was compelled to place an order in Australia. Otherwise, a ‘comparative return to prosperity might leave the Railway Department unable to carry on. He had no intention of departing from a policy of using Now Zealand coal, and lie quoted figures showing tlie D;,‘]>' lrtmciit’s 'standing orders to several ot the New Zealand mines, which, however were delivering amounts much bellow the amount of the orders. Mr .1. Roberts said that this matter was oile that called for an immediate investigation as to whether tlie mines could supply the coal.' Mr Forbes said that Air Veitch would make a 'statement when lie returned to Wellington.

IMPORTS DUE TO “WILD TALK.”

WELLINGTON, May 25.' Reps iiig to Lie dial deputation today the Prime Alinistei', Rt. Hon. 0. \y, Forbes, said that "the Railway Department laid to maintain reserve supplies in case of any emergency »nd the more that wild talk was indulged : -i about direct action the more necessity there was to have reserves. The Railways, lie safd, had always had reserves, but lately 'they had laden much lower than they should be. He did not want to import coal unnecessarily. The present Government had done niofe in the way of buying Now Zealand coal than any other Government had done. Only on occasions such as the present,, when the reserves were running down, tvere importations made, .and when a. statement was being made that something was likely to happen, naturally, the Department got ail armed. The procedure being followed was Only prudent business, and there was no special significance in