BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20028, 9 September 1930, Page 12

BRITISH COAL INDUSTRY.

DRASTIC CHANGE IN ORGANISATION. MARKETING SCHEME TO BE ESTABLISHED.

I'ixmas owiciil wibelbss.j ("Received September Bth, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, September 7. It is understood that the coalowncrs have reached an agreement to establish a marketing scheme in all the 21 thstricti under the Coal Mines Act, :::sd that practically nil the schemes .ire in accordance with the terms of the Act or of a model scheme recommended by the Mines Department. In consequence, ir is probable that by the md or the month the industry will bo ready to embark on what amounts io a drastic nhange in its organisation, since from that point all collieries in the country will be regulated as to a standard tonnage and quota, and coal will take its place with the railways, clvciricitv, pas. broadcasting, and other enterprises which have come u.idcr a substantial measure ot legislative control. Amalgamation commis-<-:onera are shortly to be appointed, to Login with schemes whero progress has already been made, and will do all I'iey can to promote voluntary amalgamation and to avoid the use or tueir powers of compulsion.

BRITISH CAR TRADE.

COMMISSIONER HOPEFUL. The new seale of tariffs -will mean a strengthening of British markets ia New Zealand, especially in motor-cars, according to the British Trade Commissioner (Mr L. A. Paish). Scanning the new tariffs, he said yesterday, one could see in them a desire to give preference to Britain, and if he were not mistaken reciprocal trade with the Homeland would bo given a decided impetus. In the car trade the difference should be marked, for it would enable Britain to eompete with outsiders more successfully than before. Even yet Britain had not caught up with other countries who had redueed the standardised and hum production method down to such a floe art that they could produce a good car cheaply. The manufacturers, too, quite rightly, had stood against abandoning a reputation which went with "British made," but at Olympia, whieb opened next month, would be ten ears which could stand against the world on their intrinsic merits. The English manufacturers had not been saying a great deal, but had been steadily working, and Mr Paish thought that the day was *ast approaching when the criticism against a British ear for being unsuitable to colonial conditions would be entirely removed. The product of the big merger of motor interests at Home would also be seen at Olympia.

DAIRY INDUSTRY. LOW PBiCE ANTICIPATED. Prospects for dairy prices dariag the earning season' are mot bright, and f.o.b. ■ales are likely to be conspicuous by their absence. Agents, of course, are set prepared to gamble on the prospects of the market, and the consequence is that the balk of the dairy produce dur-1 ing the coming season is likely to be Mia on consignment, and the sellers will probably hare to be content, in most eases, with the market price from meats to month, less shipping and other charges and what the selling agents choose to deduct for commission. Speaking at the annual meeting of the To Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company the other day, the ehairman, Mr C. M. Alexander, announced that not a tingle offer had been received by his company for its output, and it appeared aa though the suppliers would have to be content with lower prices during the coming season. He made this statement aa a warning to suppliers to eut their cloth accordingly. The company had, be said, received a circular from a leading agency which forecasts that the rate of advance would be Is per lb for August and September, and that for • each subsequent month the price would be Used on the basis of the price realised on the first day of eaeh month at Home, less 20 per cent. First grade probably would be paid for at the rate of H per lb below finest and Becend grade at Id below. Whether the whole „ of the agents at Home intended to adopt a similar attitude, he could not ■ gay. : Mr Leonard, a' produce agent, speaking with regard to the marketing of dairy produce, said that, during the calamity which overwhelmed the dairy industry during the past season Jfew Zealand had maintained its position throughout as second on the market. Denmark, he contended, would always be pre-eminent owing to her geographical position, by which she was able to place on-the Home market a butter of • better*spreadlng consistency than New Zealand could do, owing to our produce having to be frozen. Speaking of the possibility of selling the whole of the company's output, as had been suggested, through some large co-oper-ative organisation at Home, the speaker •aid the objects of the sellers and buyers were diametrically opposed. The sellers endeavoured to obtain the highest pries for their produce and the buyers organised to foree the very lowest. Mr Leonard said the large surplus of New Zealand produce held in store, would toon disappear when, he hoped, the priee would.begin to rise.

DISTILLING OF WHISKY.

CURTAILMENT OF OUTPUT. (tffMSD ram 4MOCUTIOV--ST XL2CTXIO maoiups—COPTBIOKT.) (fieeeind September Bth, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 8. The abnormal excise duty on whisky of 72s 6d per gallon, in addition to tba over-stocking of recent years, Mcessitates the Highland Malt DistOfters' Association reducing its output this season by 25 per cent., as comAaA with 1929-30. It is expected SM& the reduction will continue for mmdZ**** and wffl have eerious IWms m employment in the whisky mm: mi barley production.