The Coal Crisis.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 June 1919, Page 5

The Coal Crisis.

..—-—--—u-—---- V .‘ ADM-IRALTY CARGQS HELD UP. j WATERSIDERS OBJECT TO EXPOR’I3_ WELLINGTON, June 27 There was no response by watersiders when a call was made this af-I =te:rnoon for labour to tranship coal from the Komata to the Barwon, the latter to take to Australia for Admiralty purposes. It is understood the men object to coal going -out of the country when there is _such a serious shortage in New Zealand. STATE MINES RESUME. CARGO DECLARED “‘BLACK.’f GREYMOUTH, June 27. The State mines, idle since Friday last, resumed Work this morning. A stop work meeting Was“ held yesterday and it is understood the meet. ing declared “black” 5,000 tons of coal consigned to SYdn93’- - THE RAILWAY SIEvRV~ICES. THROUGH MAIL TRAINS-CUT, ~ OUT. THREE DAYS’ JOURNEY BETWEEN {WELLINGTON . " AND AUCKLAND. WELLINGTON, this day The Railway Department notifies that under the curtailed railway services all 9..Xp1-esses and mail trains will be suspended. Travel between Wellington and Auckland will oecupy three days, the nights being spent at Taumarunui and Palmerston North on route. The journey from Wellington to New Plymouth will take two days, and the journey to Napier several hours longer, while the Wairarapa through mail trains have been cut ou_t.

.In view of the curtailment, the de—' partemnt has fixed the ‘limit of com‘modities which will be ‘accepted for conveyance; these are to be "confined to. -foodstuffs, fuel, §i'nd“' necessary household re('lu'isites. 4 ' BARWON’S COAL.“ l * CABINET INslsTs ON EQUAL _ DISTRIBUTION. WELLINGTON, June 27_ 1 The Hon. Myers, in :1 st-ateniexit re—-gar-ding the Bar-w.on’s coal. said: This. eollier would never have brought] coal to the Dominion if ‘an equivalent ' quantity of Westport. coal could not have been guarantfeed the Admiralty in return. She brought over a‘ full shipment of Australian c-,0a1,l which was allocated to e_ssential_ in-I dustries in l3l_lnedin. After discharge I the Bar-‘won proceeded tohthe coast to? load a return dsllipniel_lit,4A but on ac—3 count of her draught, had to proceed toi Wellington to load the remainder-_ ——some 1300 tons. ‘Messrs. Roberts" and Glover, of the Watersiders’ Union 'called on the Minister and stated that the watersiders refused to load the Barwon unless they were supplied with 60 tons of coal to meet their own requirements. Mi? Myers ‘placed the question before Cabinet, iauid it was decided tliatidistribution ‘must be on an equitable basis, withicut prei’el'enCe to any section of the !community_ In conveying this derision to Blessrs. Glover alld Rob-;ol'i'.-'4. the Minister pointed out that lNe.\\'_ Zealand had already received a ‘Similar quantity of coal, and was linorally bound to snrry out the comipuct entered into. 011 the decision lot‘ Cabinet being conveyed _to the !wat.ersiders_. they refused to Complete iloacling the Burwon,-and the shipping 'compasy decided to despatch her ‘without the balance of coal. The {Minister had therefore given in~ !stTll(“tions tlmt 700 tons of the 1300 ‘should be allocated for household re‘quirements in Wellin’gton. Other col. Eliers had arrived from the West, Coast ‘and a further‘ 700 tons have been re. }leased.