THE COAL CRISIS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3567, 1 September 1920, Page 6

THE COAL CRISIS.

• SUGGESTED DELEGATION TO AUSTRALIA. WELLINGTON, August 30. Tho Wellington Chamber of Commerce, to-day decided, in view of the serious position recently disclosed regarding the coal supplies of the Dominion, the Government be urged to send a delegation to Australia to inquire into th'-> coal situation and endeavour to .make satisfactory arrangements with the coal mine, owners for fc regular supply of Australian coal for New Zealand. AUCKLAND'S COAL. AUCKLAND, August 30. Household coal will soon be G6/3 a ton in Auckland, for the locaU Coal Dealers' Association has decided to hand on the recent increases in the cost of their supplies to the consumer. The Board of Trade already au- j 'thbrised an increase of 1/- per ton on Waikato coal 'to meet the rising . expenditure. This is in addition to the new schedule of Tailway freights, ■which are stated to invdlve an advance of 25d per ton in the carriage | of fuel. I PEOSPECTS OF SETTLEMENT. DUNEDIN. August 30. Mr. P. Halley, a member of the Board of Trade,, has now completed Ms investigation concerning the coal mining disputes in Green Island, Taratu. and Mataura. The mine owners have agreed to accept Mr. Hally's decision on the merits of the dispute, and he Heaves by " the express train tor the north to-morrow in order to confer wink the representatives of the Miners' Federation. -Asked as to the prospects of a settlement, Mr. Pally said: "I will risk this prophecy: I think the prospects of a settlement are good."

RESOLUTIONS OF STATE MINERS. , - GREYMOUTH, August 30. j The State Miners 7 Union, at a stop- ! work meeting to-dayTpassed a resolu--1 tion' delegating full power te the ex--1 ecutive of the Miners' Federation to deal with the present dispute. The following further resolution was carried unanimously: "That this meeting of the State Miners' Union places on record its whole-hearted appreciation of the New Zeattand Labour Party in cabling Home congratulations, to , the British .Labour movement on its magnificent fight against the capital- ! ists of Britain in declaring economic and military war against Soviet Russia; furthermore, every sentiment, expressed in the cablegram of the N.Z. Labour Party to the British Labor Party meets with our whole-hearted approval, and in the event of war being declared on Soviet Russia by the forces of British capitalists, we pledge ourselves to join with the Labour movement of Grear Britain and, if neTessary, to resort to direct action in order to prevent further slaughter in the interests of Imperialism and capitalism." !