THE PRICE OF COAL. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 37, 12 August 1905, Page 15

THE PRICE OF COAL. TO THE EDITOR.

• Sir, — I have Tead the report? headed "Cheap State Coal" in your issue of Tuesday, and as there are so mnny misconceptions with reference to the coal question, will you kindly allow, one engaged an tho trade to correct some^ of the statements made? In comparing the price of State coal supplied from the ship with other coals similarly' supplied, you say the former could, perhaps, bo delivered to places not far from the wharf at 24s 6dJ as against 36s to 40s per ton for the latter. The fact 15 that the retail price for. the principal coal sold here — that is, screened Coalbrookdale — has been for years 31s 1 - per "ton, and ..this has been reduced to 295, nnd for this any coal merchant will deliver it from tlie ship in ton lots, jnto the consumers' coal-bin anywhere in the city, with a ticket from the city weighbridge. _ State coal cannot be delivered at 24s 6d per ton, as I know of no houses' where the .carrying of the coal can be dispensed with, and this means a long detention for the 'horse and dray, as' well as the wages of two men to nil and .carry it in. This is increased, as you' discovered on visiting tho wharf, by the often long wait for one's turn nt the steamer. If coal must be bagged, a 'yard is indispensable, and this entails many expenses, Retails of which I need not trouble you with, but which are well exemplified in the' price of bagged coal. In conclusion,' I might point out that as the working man usually buys a week's supply, say lewt, at a time, a. reduction Of 5s per ton is necessary in order that such a small purchaser may gefc\threepence, and this is not so easy of accomplishment fls outsiders seem _to;imagine. — I am, .etc. - BLACK DIAMOND. Wellington, 10th August, 1905.