THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 19 May 1919, Page 2

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

AH M.P. SPEAKS OUT. Mr Hornsby, M.P, has been letting himself go on the coal question, as the following extracts from a letter he published in the “New Zealand Times” fully shows:— “I reiterate what I have previously stated in your colnai**: that there ' never has been any necessity for a coe! shortage at any time. The Government or some other body has played into tho hands of the coal owners, and the shipowners, and dealers. The Government has been inert where it should hava i been vigilant and vigorous. Meantime, !thc householder pays 21 per ton for coal (when he can get it) that could ha supplied for £2, and then leave a bandj some profit.” In another portion of his letter he splinters a lacee on behalf of the working miner. He says:— “I frankly admit that the miners or the Co a# have intensified the tronbis; but are they altogether to blame, i say they are not, and I stand to tahe whatever may be coming to rae beeaurt of such utterance. If you treat me* like dogs you cannot complain (you ought not to complain) if they beba« badly—like dogs, in fact, and bite yor pretty badly. The miners of the Wed Coast—and elsewhere —instead of being treated fairly and reasonably, h?- r5 been made fiercely recalcitrant by th* attitude of tho managers and director* of the companies. I do not wish here to go into particulars; I will leave that to a latte-r stage in the House.” It is evident fro id the above that tbs coal question will be,, fully reatiietfd when the House meets. V~^SSSSBM