HIGH COST OF COAL

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 197, 20 August 1919, Page 7

HIGH COST OF COAL

MORE MEN LIFT LESS. ' BIG DROP IN PRODUCTION. LONDON. August 10. ' Dealing with the coal qu nation in the Mouse of Commons to-day, Mr. Lloyd Ueor-ie said that the, production of "coal in Uritain before the war was 257,0<i<1.000 tons annually. This year, at the present rate of production, the figure would Iμ- 2110,000.000 tons, und this despite Uie la't that a greater number of men were employed to-day in the mines. A ton of coal cost 1(1/ to raiao in 101.1; today it cost 2li/. That was not only partly n-sponeible for the abnormally high prices of other articles, but it handicapped us in other countries where production was cheaper nnd greater. No tariff could remedy this. Mr. Lloyd < ieorge described the economic outlook as grave. The slackening of production would 1.-:ul In the long run to, gigantic unemployment and failure, to maintain LiUmr's recent gains. The I (rt>vernment projx*scd to empower the, Board of Trade t:> prevent dumping in order to shield unstable key industries, i Mr. Lloyd Ceorge said that he. atUu-hcd great importance tv Loitering Imperial i trade by improved means of communi-! cation with the Dominions and India,— • (A. and N.Z. Cable. )