SOUTH WALES FEARS

Evening Star, Issue 22475, 21 October 1936, Page 1

SOUTH WALES FEARS

RUSSIAN GOAL FOR CANADA Considerable concern is felt in the South Wales anthracite coal trade at the Canadian Government’s decision to allow 250,000 metric tons—about 245,000 English tons —of Russian anthracite coal into Canada each year, says a writer in the ‘ Daily Telegraph.’ The view is taken that the greater part of this trade will be lost oy the South Wales mines, and it will mean a decrease of nearly £300,000 in the value of British exports to Canada. I understand that representations may be made to the Government by members of the trade with a view to reopening the negotiations which took place between British and Canadian Government officials before the RussoCanadian agreement was reached. The value of British anthracite exports to Canada have fallen for the last few years as follows:

. “ The Government cannot view with equanimity further losses to the coal industry,” a prominent member of the trade said. “It looks as if we shall lose the greater part of the 250,000 metric tons, as the United States, our chief competitor in Canada, mainly supplies the prairie provinces, where it would be difficult and expensive to transport Russian coal.” NO BREACH OF OTTAWA. The permission to import Russian coal is not a breach of the Ottawa Agreement. Certain provisos have been incorporated in the agreement, but their effect remains to be seen. “ A monopolistic import agency for Russian coal may not be set up in Canada; the coal may not be imported into the mari. time provinces; and it must be sold at a fair market price. “ Whether that price will be based on the price of Welsh anthracite coal, or on the cheaper German and Belgian coal, has not been announced, however, and the Russians may try to undercut us.”

So far no orders for Russian coal are known to have been given. As it is usual for the markets to be closed between November and April, it is hoped that Canadian firms have already ordered nearly all their requirements for this year.

Canada’s embargo on. Russian coalraised recently—was introduced in 1931, when Russia exported 200,000 tons to the Dominion. At the Ottawa Conference it was agreed to place a duty on all anthracite imported into Canada with the exception of British. This dutv is still in force, and will have to be paid on imports from Russia.

Tons. Value. 1933 . ... 1,412,706 £1,983,279 1934 , ... 1,384,704 £1,845.039 1935 . .. 1,296,433 £l,63lj760