STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 85, 7 October 1920, Page 8

STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY

THE AUSTRALIAN SUPPLIES.

Mr. Jl A. Nash (Palmerston North) esked the Prime Minister in the House Df Representative thk afternoon if there was any possibility of contracts Bntered.,into.;during. the last three months with/Australia, for coal (apart from Government contracts) being fulfilled at an early date. At Palmertson North they were living from hand to mouth as far as the.-.gasworks were concerned. The Prime Minister: "I can hardly say the prospects are particularly satisfactory. I had better explain the position." He said that there was plenty Df coal on the other side waiting to be shipped, and there were sufficient steamers to carry it here; but the difficulty : was'.lit'regard to the loading. This was due troche fact that the Australian States had been given precedence over New Zealand, though to this they could scarcely object. The supply was, howBver, overtaking the demand, and an improvement in the position was taking place. That was . all the information M*'" could give. The, New Zealand Government had secured a quantity of coal, but the difficulty was to get it over here. The local New Zealand conditions had improved in the last few days. Pukemiro was the only mine idle at present^ and. negotiations were still going_ on, between the owners and representatives of the men. He understood there was a. meeting of owners at Wellington to-day. He did not know what the result would! be, though'there'did not seem to be much between the two parties. The Governaiient had done all it could to keep gasworks and industries going. He hoped the present improvement would continue.