THE WESTPORT COAL INDUSTRY.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 38, 13 August 1895, Page 4

THE WESTPORT COAL INDUSTRY.

The following aocount of some talk with Mr. Jameson, the Westport representative of the Westport Coal Co., who is now on a visit to Wellington, will be of interest i— ln reply to questions, Mr. Jameson said that the West Coast is suffering from superabundance of unemployed labour, as well as other parte of the colony. The coal business was the reverse of aotive thiß year on aocount of keen competition with New South Wales, and coal bronght here by the large steamers from Home, whioh are nnable to find sufficient outward cargo, and consequently fill up with coal. In some of the large steamers half the coal, and even more, neoe&Bary for the return voyage is English coal, whioh they have bronght out, thus diminishing their requirements of New Zealand coal. New bouth Wales also wag a serious competitor, because the wages there are lower, and also the charges for railway haulage and other items, 'ilia average quantity hewn per man per day at the Coalbrookdale mine was about 5 tons Bowt, which at present wages would enable a man to earn about 12s per day. In New South Wales the miners in the best paid mines do not average over 9s per day. The competition is likely to become muoh keener in consequence of the freetrade polioy of New South Wales. New Zealand will obtain a market for its farm produoo again in New South Wales, and large quantities of coal will be brought from there as ballast. The price for Weßtport coal has already been reduced very low. Westport coal is good for gas pnrposes, and its value is beooming generally reoognised, and the Wellington Gaß Company is now using Coalbrookdale coal -extensively. As yet there ia no foreign export. The Westport Harbour Board has, however, just procured a tug, and the Westport Coal Company is negotiating for the charter of ships to take trial shipments to America. The first shipment will probably be to San Franoisoo, where the demand ia almost nnlimited. The west coast of Sontb America will &Ibo afford a great market if once the trade can be opened np, as the coal in those parts is limited and of inferior quality. There should be a fair chance of competition with England in these markets, as vessels from England to the west coast of America have to make a long and difficult passage whereas vessels from i\ ew Zealand have the prevailing westerly winds and a muoh shorter passage in their favour. A reference to the map will Bbow that the position of .New Zealand is more favourable to the command of this trade than even Newcastle. The Government is doing something toenconrageanexporttrade. Thoy allow v refund of 25 per cent, on the cost of haulage of coal specially for foreign export. The vessels of the Australasian Squadron take Coalbrookdalo coal to some extent, and the French and German warEhips also. They have all expressed their complete satisfaction with it. About 550 men are now employed on the Weßtport coalfields. Since the Westport Harbour Board has ceased operations abont 80 men have been thrown out of work, bnt there are other works going on The Westport Coal Company is carrying on extensive inoline workß at Granity Creek. It ia also having large orders for maohinery and mine tnbs exeonted in the colony instead of sending the orders to England. Tho other mines are also extending their operations, and if a foreign export trade were established amplo scope would be afforded for the fnll development of all the mines on the West Coast.