COALMINING INDUSTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2594, 31 August 1909, Page 5

COALMINING INDUSTRY.

REDUCTION OF 200 HANDS AT. WESTPORT.

[Per Press Association.] WESTPORT, August 30.. The action of the Westport Coal' Company in discharging some 200 men from their Granity Creek mine owing to slackness of demand for coal is causing a good deal of local agitation, especially in view of the fact that the Government is importing Newcastle coal in Melbourne owned steamers for use on the railways. Amongst reasons for slackness of demand are mentioned the good winter in Canterbury, the shutting down of freezers, the laying up of ten of the Union Company’s boats, the competition of Newcastle coal (313,664 tons having been landed during the last six months, as compared with 192,018 tons for the corresponding period of last year), the competition of Waikato coal via the North Island Main Trunk line, and the general dullness of trades in the DominionThe Government’s importation of Newcastle coal is a particularly sore point, and in many quarters there is a demand for a’ protective duty. The Stockton Miners’ Union, in view of the -widespread distress, passed a resolution deploring the Government’s action in importing Newcastle coal. It considers such action a breach of the trust reposed in the Liberal Government by the labor organisations. Mr Colvin, M.P., who complained to Mr Ronayne of his importing 50,000 tons from Newcastle, says Mr Ronayne told him he was taking all suitable coal offering from the Stockton and State mines, but the Westport Coal Company would not supply orders. Mr Colvin opposes a reduction of the local railway rates to assist in meeting competition, as revenue is rquired to complete the harbor. Mr Dow grey, president of the Granity Union, says one reason of the shortening of hands is the temporary scarcity of hard coal in the Granity mine. This difficulty will not be got over until development work now proceeding is completed. The Miners’ Federation, he says, will advocate a reduction of the haulage rates and duty on foreign coal. A public meeting in Westport resolved that the importation of Australian coal into the Dominion is increasing; that the railways are large purchasers of imported coal; that the mines in this district are working at a reduced output owing to scarcity of orders; that the Westport Coal Company today finds it necessary to give 250 coal miners notice that their services are no longer required. The meeting further urged on the Cabinet the necessitv of making full and complete enquiry into the reasons that bring tins undesirable state- of things about, and if need be introduce such legislation as will ensure the regular and systematic working of the Dominion’s own coal measures.