THE COAL STRIKE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1917, Page 5

THE COAL STRIKE

HUNTLY MINERS. m NO STRIKE DEVELOPMENTS. By Telegraph, Spec!.-.: to News. Auckland, Last Night. There are no developments regarding the strike ut Ifuntly. The miners are still working, but it .in expected' thev will take a secret ballot on Saturday. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY. EFFECTS OF COAL SHORTAGE. ■ Auckland, Last Nignl. The City Council to-night decided to out oil' the supply of current for electrical signs and 'verandah lights; also from the tramway company, which obtain* a portion of its supply from-the municipality, The Mayor and engineer were authorised to take action witn re-, gard to lifts and picture shows if necessary. GOVERNMENT ADAMANT. STATEMENT. BY SIR JAMES ALLEN. Hokitilcn, Last Night. The Acting Premier and the Hon. W. D. S. McDonald visited Hokitika to-day, and although only short notice had been given the town hall was packed. The county chairman presided. Short addresses were given > by botii Minister*. Sir James Allen, referring to Hit cause of the Ministers' visit to the eoast, said he and his colleague, had addressed the miners in many parts of thedistrict. The miners were taking « secret ballot on the question of resuming work. The Government would he delighted if tho men wc'ht back, but if an adverse vote was carried the (Joteminent would-do its duty. The speakers both referred to the part New Zealand is playing in the war, and aflii'iuod that the Government is de■termiued to soe the Military Service Act carried out. The fallowing resolution was carried unanimously, the audience cheering and singing the national anthem: ''That this meeting pledges itself to support the national Government in giving effect to any measures that may be deemed necessary to deal with the present national crisis." 0 CURTAILMENT OF TRAIN SERVICE. ""' "': DRASTIC REDUCTION. Ve»y drastic reductions of the train service have been made throughout New Zealand, owing to the prevailing strike, and Taranaki, in comfnon with other parts, suffors considerably. This time table .comes into force on Monday'next, and is said to be curtailed considerably mbro than was proposed in the "war" time table that was to have seen introduced in May. . . The mail trains will Continue running as usual. The 12.50 p.m. train from New Plymouth is suspended, a/i is also the train arriving here at 3 p.m. TV 7.4.1 a.iu, train from New Plymouth will only run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the 4.2") p.m. train will run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The train usually arriving here daily at 10.45 a.rii. will only run on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and the train arriving here at 5.30 p.m. will only run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Waitara branch will connect with all (rains. On the, Whangamomona branch there wily "be a weekly service. Trains will leave Whangamomona at 11.20 a.m. and Stratford at 7.2, p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It has been decided to cease the issue of week-end excursion tickets. Only such goods as are absolutely essential will be carried. The list of traffic that will not be accepted includes race horses, building material, flax and wool for storage, straw, road metal, ta., lime, vehicles, minerals (except coal and coke) etc. This reduced time table will considerably affect the attendance of country children at the Technical School, as the train will now only permit of their attending every other day. the matter will probably be discussed at the meeting of the Education Board on Tuesday, with a view to finding some means of overcoming the diflicultv. .■1 ' -