WELLINGTON TOPICS

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3469, 24 April 1920, Page 5

WELLINGTON TOPICS

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

STILL ACUTE. (Special Correspondent.) ‘ ‘ - WELLING-TON_. April 23. It is now six or ‘seven weeks since the Prime Minister stated to an interviewer that the acute stage of the coal shortage was over and that the agreement. made at the conference between the mine owners and the me; would make for the gradual restoration of normal conditions. But to the ordinary householder who has not yet experienced any of the relief he was promised, coal is as difficult -to obtain as ever it was, and the cost of cartage is steadily increasing. It is true the state Depot is receiving cash orders for small quantities, without putting its customers through the ordeal of standing in a queue for hours together, but it is not committing itself to any time for delivery, and many people have been without an ounce of coal for weeks. The private dealers simply smile at the stranger who comes to them with his money in his hand and asks as a favour for half a sack of coal. ABOUT THE AGREEMENT. As the improvement ingthe position was to be produced by a better understanding between the Mine Owners’ Association and the Miners’ Federation, it is not reassuring to learn from Mr J. Arbuckle, one of the representatives of the men, this understanding has not been reached. “Fully a. dozen unions,” he said this morning, “are unable to procure the increases of wages granted under the national agreement.‘ The mine owners al'e doing everytlling in their power to prevent the miners from procuring the rates of pay set out under the national agreement. ‘The State mine authorities are the only ones that have met the men fairly and -settled things in accordance with the agreement. g If a settlement is not made within ‘the next few weeks by the private V coal companies there very likely will be a re-cul‘rence"h-ffthe trouble.”" The‘ executive of the Federation expresses the strongest desire _to preserve the peace, but it is not at all certain about the attitude of the men if the whole position has -to ‘be-' reviewed. ’ . THE EMPLOYERS’ VIEW. _

,A representative of the ‘Mine Owners’ Association -seen“ this morning made light of Mr ~Arbuekle-"s assertions. There are a few "outstanding points in the interpretation of the agreement between the owners and the men that were not yet quite settled, he se.i'd, but the owners throughout had Tried to deal with these in ca conciliatory Msl)il;i_t, .~,_-148116. cwere :lllXiouS' as Mr Arbuekle professed to be to preserve the peace and remove the inetzxvenience the public were suffering. The coal shortage was due to :1 variety -of- circumstances, but the one that could beimost easily removed was the “go—slow’:’ policy, limiting the rate and volume of productionglf the men would make up their minds to do ‘the best for the conimunity, and While earning‘ bigfwages would be relieving muizh of the inconvenience and loss they are now inflicting upon individuals and upon the industries of the eor.ntry. ‘

'rHl«3 GOVERNMENTS RESPON-

SIBILITY.

.\l.e:lnwhile the Government is accepting the As§'ociation’s View of the matter, and, though dealing fairly with the men, insisting upon the terms ot‘. the agreement being observed. The 17':-inie Minister left for Auckland yestorday afternoon to meet the Prince of Wales in the northern city, and during the next few weeks will be engageul mainly with the entel'taimnent of the Dmninion’.s Royal guest, but he h:l‘s 2). fully equipped ofiice travelling with him, and while joining in the reoeial and public festivities proper to the occasion, will keep an alert eye upon the developments in -the coal situation. The general opinion is that the miners are not seeking trouble. and that the differences between them and the authorities are so trivial, a nurtuully satisfactory isettleuient should be reached without any serious difiiculty. Needless to say, the coalless public” regartl this as -.1 consummation devoutly to he wislied.