SHIPPING OF COAL

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29179, 13 April 1960, Page 25

SHIPPING OF COAL

State Policy Criticised

(New Zealand Press Association) WESTPORT, April 12. “The statement of the Undersecretary of Mines (Mr P. Outhwaite) that the Mines Department had never prevented the private coal mines from shipping their own coal, is perhaps as true as far as it goes, but the Undersecretary evades the main point, which is, that the policy of the department in refusing to allow State coal to be shipped in the same ship as private coal is preventing the private mines from selling their slack coal.” This statement was made today by the chairman of the Buller Private Mine Owners' Association (Mr J. P. McEnaney) replying to a comment by Mr Outhwaite on the association's earlier statement that the private mines were being “squeezed out” by Government policy. Mr McEnaney’s statement continued: “It our complaint on this matter is not true, then why is it that the consumers of industrial coal do not avail themselves of the offer of private mines to sell slack coal at less than the State price?

"These consumers Just cannot arrange shipping to carry the cheaper coal and are thus forced to purchase higher-priced State coal. It is the Mines Department which, over the years, has forced up the price of coal and this high price is the principal reason why so many Industries requiring power have been forced to change to electricity or imported oil, thus causing a substantial drop in the production of bituminous coal.

“The Under-Secretary says that some men who had lost their jobs had found positions in the State mines. The private mine owners contend they were sacked because the State refused to load their coal in the same ship (not mixed) thereby causing Die private mines to lose their orders. "This is a poor apology to the workers and is no satisfaction to mine owners whose leases, issued by the same department, require them under severe penalties to produce coal from their areas,” the statement concluded.