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Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1917, Page 5

I : MINISTERS FIRM. REPLY TO LABOR FEDERATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Greymouth, Last Night. Sir James Allen and the Hon. VV. S. 0. M'acDonald arrived back late to-night, after meeting the miners of Ruananga and liewuiiui. Sir James Allen, in reply to Mr Iliram Hunter's statement, scut the following telegram:—'Hiram Hunter, national secretary, federation of Labor, Chmtchurch. Your telegram received. I can scarcely believe that the Federation of Labor is opposed to so fair and democratic a measure as the Military Service Act, which placet every man, so far as service with the Expeditionary Forces is concerned, on exactly the same footing. The Government cannot suspend the operation of tho Act; larliament: alone can do that. The Act was passed with only seven dissentients, and 1 have every reason to .believe that the general opinion of the country i$ «c« curately represented by Allen." The Ministers leave Greymoufch . , return on Saturday morning. MINERS ARRESTED. ALLEGIE SEDITION. SEiUOUS POSITION AT BIfISTLTj Auckland, Last Night/ Six Huntly miners and three WMt Coast miners were arrested in connection with-the alleged go-slow strike toiday, and remanded till next Monday. It was stated that the case would last fully two weeks. Subsequently, a Huntly miner, named John Wesley, senr., was arrested on a charge of seditious utterance. He was also remanded till Monday. There are 42 informations against the nine miners originally arrested, and 66 miners at Huntly havo been summoned to appear later as parties to a seditious strike. The informations include excerpts from correspondence between the officialfVand ty it alleged to denote the encouragement'of restrictions on the output of the coal mines. ■ i m The miners have struck work'at the Pukemiro colliery, eight miles from Huntly. There are 150 men. out. SHORTAGE OF COAL " ELECTRIC SUPPLY AFPECTE9, Auckland, Last Night The Mayor stated to-day that oftin; to tlie shortage 6f coal it was necessary to curtail the supply of electricity to certain largo users. Unless coal WAS available in the next few days, it would be necessary to make a drastic curtailment in order to keep the absolutely sential services running, THE RAILWAY SERVICE. ANOTHER QOT. Auckland, Last Nlglrt. Another cut in the railway serviw is. reported, the Department having cancelled the special train arrangements for tho Manawatu races, which take place on April -23 and 20. It has also cancelled specials for all similar eriitgs.