DEARER COAL

Evening Star, Issue 22379, 1 July 1936, Page 8

DEARER COAL

INCREASED HANDLING CHARGES WEST COAST MINES UNAFFECTED YET The increased retail prices of coal which came into force to-day are reported to represent only the added costs ex mine and the increase occasioned by paying the 1931 award rates to carters and coal yard employees. The low margin on' 1 ' which the Dunedin merchants are' at present operating is being investigated by the Department of Industries and Commerce, and until its decision has been made known the present margin will be maintained, it is understood.

It was ascertained from the Westport Coal Company this morning that the increased price of production refers only to the local mines, for those situated on the West Coast have not yet been affected, though it is considered certain that these will also have to increase their prices before long, when it is seen what effect the 40-hour week is going to have on the _ industry. Though the cost of production of the West Coast coal ha(s not been affected the handling charges by carters and yard employees have gone up locally. It was pointed out by Mr R. D. Halstead, manager of John Mill and Co., that no provision bad been made for overhead charges, and it was just possible that later' the price of coal might be further increased by the Department of Industries and Commerce which appreciated the very low margin on which the Dunedin merchants were working.