THE COAL CRISIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1648, 9 December 1916, Page 3

THE COAL CRISIS.

AIUCH UNEASINESS. Wellington, Dee. 7. The coal strike continues to cause a groat deal of uneasiness cliietly as yet among coalmine owners and big users of coal. The Westport men wore to have held a meeting last night 1.0 decide their course of action. It is anticipated that they will not strike. The Minister for Mines (Mr McDonald) had intended to visit the West Coast, hut lie has now postponed his visit indolinitoly. Mr P. C. Wohh, M.P., left for the Coast last night to interview the unions. It is understood (hat. he will advise fhe men now onl to resume work. The only argument he can possibly use with the men are that they should be loyal to the Miner’s Federation and that the present time is not opportune for a strike. He is a rabid anii-conseriptionist himself, and lie cannot possibly tell the men that the, ground on which (hey have called the strike is not; in Ids opinion a, good and sufficient ground. The continuance of the present, state of affairs must be disastrous to the community generally. If it could be hoped that as a result of the pleas of Mr Webb or other persons the business might be settled finally the present reduction of the coal supply would no! be such a serious matter. But it would be absurd to hope that if the men go hack to work on Air Webb's advice they go back content to put up with conscription. That is certainly not their intention. They go back only to strike again when the community will be, as they think, loss able to resist them, in the meantime the community's power is being reduced. The production of coal on the West Coast is now 40 per cent, less limn it was a few week’s ago, ami less than the Dominion's consumption. The miners by their decision that no man shall earn more than 17s (id a day, when at the hewing rales they can readily earn 22s or 22s a day, lias increased the risk to I lie community of a serious coal shortage. This risk is already serious because everybody interested knows that stocks of coal are even now low enough to cause uneasiness. These aspects of the coal dillienJiv have been the subject of some anxious thought, on the part of people virtually concerned. K, is understood, also, that the Government has had its a I tent-ion drawn to the danger. It is suggested that the Government may have to lake over the whole‘output and control the distribution of it to ensure that shipping and essential industries shall he supplied. There are no doubt difficulties about carrying out this proposal, but the tact (Iml it is being seriously suggested shows how the present slate of things is viewed by people most affected. Deduced railway services are by no means an impossibility, and some municipalities and eom-

panics, gas or elect rieily, arc ii<>v now in a position lo go on ns usual for long. i« educed electin' lighting .services and reduced gas services may'Very soon he expected.