COAL CARGOES

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 July 1940, Page 8

COAL CARGOES

NEW MARKETS SOUGHT [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, July 16. Cargoes from the vast supplies of British coal, which have accumulated as a result of the submission of France, are being shipped to South America and Portugal. Further inquiries are now being negotiated, and within the next few weeks, the export of coal from Britain is expected rapidly to increase. Canada, as well as South America, will have moreplentiful supplies at cheaper prices. The British coal industry, which is aiming at an annual production of 280,000,000 tons, or 40,000,000 more than in peace-time, had a respectable surplus as a result of Germany’s invasion of Scandinavia. It was at first hoped that some of this would be available for Britain’s customers overseas, but when the Germans marched into Holland, Belgium, and Northern France, all the available supplies were rushed to France, whose coalfields had been seized by the enemy. The subsequent submission of France, together with Italy’s entry into the war, virtually put an end to all shipments of coal to Europe, outside Spain and Portugal. There is now a respectable volume of suitable coal for export piling up at British ports, for shipment.

HOME SUPPLIES.

RUGBY, July 16.

The Minister of Mines stated at the mine workers’ conference to-day, that the Government had a programme for accumulating large stocks of coal, aiming at the establishment of a store of twenty million tons, in strategic depots throughout the country.