THE COAL SHORTAGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 May 1919, Page 5

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

AUCKLAND THREATENED WITH DARKNESS. AUCKLAND, May 28. The position in connection with the supply of gas in Auckland is still critical, although. the Gas Company does not anticipate any immediate likelihood of having to again reduce pressure to consumers. Anxiety will not be relieved, however, until'a'reserve stock has been established.

SOUTH AFRICA.

DARK DAYS AHEAD. CAPETOWN, May 21. in the Assembly, the Minister of Railways announced that, the Imperial Government had decided to give th*3 Union Government half a million veiling worth of railwiy material in recognition of nati3-.nl service rendered during the war. The Senate debar d a motion to abolish the present syotom. of having a dual capital in Capetown and Pretoria and to establish one central capital. Sir E. Walters, President of the Johannesburg mine owners in a letter to the Premier, warns him of the critical position of the gold-minng industry. Nothing could now prevent a number of important mines closing shortly. Sir E. Wallers urge* .the Government to give consideration of the position in view of unemployment and distress which must result. The Minister of Mines, interviewed, said the Government realised the gravty of the position and was to assist. The Government coukl riot undertake to keep the mines working at a loss. It was considering the appointment of a commission to inquire into the whole position with special consideration of the problem for the relation of native coloured labour to the mines. The ("ape Copper Company's mine in Manaqualand has closed idling 000 Europeans and 3000 natives. PRETORIA, May 2.1.

Evidence is increasing of the spread of Bolshevism in.certain quarters, and the constitution of an International Socialist League in Transvaal, which states that special attention is being paid to native workers, who must be educated in order to found a Socialist Republic along with the whites when the hour of revolution strikes.