COAL VEND CASE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1148, 8 June 1911, Page 5

COAL VEND CASE.

UNABLE TO GET STEAMERS,

By Telegraph—l'ress Association-Copyright (Rec. June 7, 9.15 p.m.)

Sydney, Juno 7. The hearing of the Coal Vend ease has been resumed. Tho managing director of tho Ebbwmain colliery gave evidence that the operations of this company were hampered by the inability to get suitable steamers to carry coals.

In his opening address in the Coal Vend case, Mr. Wise, K.C., counsel for tho prosecution, referred to tho treatment which he alleged the Vend had met >d out to the owners of tho Ebbwmain colliery. He said: "Kethcl and Company owned tho Young Wallscnd and tho Ebbwmain collieries, which were coming into development and beginning to put out coal towards the end of 1907, and at tho beginning of 1908. Kethcl and Company had a yard in Sydney. In 1909 they began to reach further afield, and made a contract with Mount Lyell to supply one thousand tons of specimen coal. Larger orders were to follow if approved, and the coal was to be delivered in Tasmania. ICethel and Company found immediately, however, that, freight was somehow or other .unavailable. Somehow or other tho steamers were always full. It was the same with other contracts in Tasmania— tho Devonport City Council and tho Launcestou Gas Company.

"Then Kothel and Co. opened a yard in Melbourne, and again found that they could get no freight. They were forced to charter two steamers quite unsuitable for the trade, and for which they could get no return cargo. It was quite impossible for them to carry coal to Melbourne."