NEW ZEALAND NEWS

Taihape Daily Times, 21 August 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

I THE COAIi CRISIS. CONSIDERED BY CABINET. 'CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 20 Sir Jas. Allen stated to-day that Cabi- I net was considering the coal question from the point of view of the cost of coal from the time the miner hewed it until it got to the coal seller or the consumer. Cabinet had not considered the question of State control, and did not see how that would help. He added that if the miners struck they were liable to penalties under the law, and they understood the law perfectly well. Any man came out on strike would forfeit any military exemption that might be obtained by reason of his calling. SHORTAGE OF HORSE-FEED. POSITION NOW CRITICAL.

An exceptional shortage of horsefeed prevanls throughout Auckland, and the North Island generally, at the present time. Grain and produce merchants interviewed yesterday stated that existing stocks would probably last about a fortnight and no further supplies were in sight. All hay, oats, even wheaten straw, was being chaffed to eke out the supply. The greatest difficulty was being experienced in obtaining feed from the South Island, shipping companies having declined to cary chaff owing to the urgent demand for space. Apart from shipping difficulties, however, supplies were also stated to be very low in the South. Owing to the exceptionally cold winter and recent snowfall, there had been an unprecedented amount of hand-feeding, which had created a position not anticipated a few months ago. “Prices to-day are higher than at any previous period,” said one dealer, “and where we were paying about £8 a ton for feed iny January, the price. ds-£T4 ;now.” THE MINING TROUBLE. FEDERATION AGAIN ASKS FOR. CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, August 20. The Miners’'Federation, in reply to the coal-owners’ statement of August 8, quotes figures showing that the' average miner’s income in 1914 was £2Ol 16s 4d against an outlay (including explosives) of £144 18s sd, leaving a balance of £56 17s lid. The average income earned in 1918 was £238 13s, against an outlay of £219 3s 3d (including explosives, etc),: leaving a balance of only £l9 9s 9d to meet other contingencies. ' The shiftman, or day wage worker, is in a much worse position than the miner; The Federation reiterates its willingness for a conference, believing such a course to be the most rational and public-spirited. .a, THE SESSION. LEADERS EXPECTED TO BE'BACK CHRISTCHURCH, August 20. Sir James Allen stated to-day that he knew no more regarding the appointment of a permanent Minister in London than had appeared in the Press cablegrams. 'As far as he knew, the leaders would be back in time for the opening of Parliament. The position was that Parliament was prorogued until October sth, and he presumed that everybody would want to finish the business before Christmas. He did not anticipate a great deal of discussion, but he was not prepared to forecast the work of the session legislatively. He did not incline to the view that a double session would be necessary. 1