COAL SHORTAGE

Evening Star, Issue 16994, 17 March 1919, Page 7

COAL SHORTAGE

INCREASE IN NEWCASTLE FORESHADOWED. [Special to the ‘ Star.*] CHRISTCHURCH, March 15. Although as yet the retail coal merchants have not definitely announced a rise in the price of coal, it is generally admitted in the trade that a retail increase, probably 6s per ton in the case of Newcastle coal, is inevitable within the next few days. That this incraise >s absolutely justified was the contention ad vanced by Mr J. A. Redpath to a ‘ Sun ’ representative to-day Mr Rednath is the chairman of the Government Coal Trade Disiribution Committee. as a merchant, 1 would like to sgy that an inciease to tho public in the price of Ansti alien coal is absolutely justified,” added Mr Redpath. “The position is that the Union Steam Ship Comoany have advanced their freight rates 3s 6d’ a ton, and tho Melbourne Steam Ship Company 7s 6d a ton. Vessels of the latter company arc chartered by the Commonwealth Government, and for the last six or seven trips have been run at an actual loss, yet their rates previously were higher than those of *he Union Company lam not financially interested in the Union Steam Ship Coninany. but frem my knowledge of freights I can confidently say that their rates are tho cheapest in the world to-day. It is only fair to this much-criticised -company to say this, for it has saved the Now Zealand consumer a vast sum during the war.” Regarding the increased freight rates of 3s 6d to 7s 6d per ton respectively, Mr Redpath said that these would be passed on by tho importers without addition or without any attempt to strike an average. He felt- certain, however, that the retail merchants would strike a flat rate, as otherwise individuals would be penalised according to the source of shipment. On the rise in drivers’ wages they would also be entitled to charge extra, but personally he was not concerned with this. He considered that the present shortage of coal to-day was largely duo to the fact that high freights ruling elsewhere had attracted shipping to other parts of the world.