STATE COALMINES.

Evening Post, Volume LXXII, Issue 66, 15 September 1906, Page 15

STATE COALMINES.

o / TO TUB ZDITOK. Sir — In your issue of Friday evening last the following paragraph appeared : "The demand for New Zealand coal J3 so great at the present time that the Railway Department has been obliged to place an order for several thousand tons from Newcastle." Now, although not personally interested in tho coal trade, I am in a, position to know the; correct position of affairs as regards tho coalmining industry of this colony, and can confidently state that tho coalmines of New Zealand are in a position, with fair play, to produce all the coal required in tho colony without importing from Newcastle at all. It is well enough known that the institution of State 1 coalmining has done considerable injury to sime coal companies (who are tenants of .the State) by the withdrawal of its nude for railway and other public services, and also by unfair competition ; but the paragraph quoted appears to show fur- %- ther injustice as well as illegality on the part of the State. Tho Act relating to State coalmines disinctly provides that only "after, Stato requirements have been provided for' 1 may coal from tho Stato mines be sold, the original object of Stato mines being the supply of Stato requirements. Kow wo loam that tho Government is breaking the law by selling coal before State requirements arc met, necessitating the ' importation of coal from olsewhero. Thi3 matter requircß carefully looking into in the interest of FiTIR PLAY. Wellington, 10th September, 1906.