COAL FROM U.S. AND CANADA

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24961, 23 August 1946, Page 8

COAL FROM U.S. AND CANADA

REPLY TO BUREAU OF IMPORTERS “ LUDICROUS ALLEGATION ” (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 21. Replying to a statement attributed to the Bureau of Importers criticising the Government for arranging imports of coal and timber, the Minister of Works (the Hon. R. Semple) said today that the allegation that the miners had failed to respond to the demand for increased coal production was an underhand attack by the Bureau ot Importers in an attempt to secure softie advantage for importers at the expense of other members of the community. The Minister said the statement conveniently overlooked the fact that considerable quantities of coal had always been imported in the past from Australia, but these importations ceased entirely in 1944. Mr Semple said the marvel was that essential services had not been affected to a much greater extent than they had been in view of the increased demands which the coal industry .endeavoured to meet, irrespective of additional calls for more coal from expanded manufacturing industries at a time when the coal industry was suffering a shortage of skilled hewers.

“The fact that each year a new record in coal production has been achieved obviously fails to find a responsive note from the eßureau of Importers. which with its iaundiced eye. carelessly corisiders the coa] resources of the couhtry adequate, though it fails to mention or differentiate between various classes of coal and their uses.” said the Minister. A concerted effort would do much to increase further the coal production of the Dominion, but in the meantime it was common sense to import from North America and Canada, where some quantities of coal had become available, and so avoid the possibility of a serious set-back to New Zealand’s transport, gas. cement, and other essential industries.

“The bureau’s statement is irresponsible in the extreme and entirely divorced from facts.” said Mr Semple. “Their airy allegation that our present shortage of coal is due to industrial unrest is ludicrous.”