DISSATISFIED COAL DEALERS

Grey River Argus, 2 March 1907, Page 4

DISSATISFIED COAL DEALERS

— *H» THE EFFECT OF STATE COMPETITION.

A tcanlerence of coal dealers waited on the Hon. Mr Hall-Jones at Wellington last Wednesday. Mr Richardson (ChristchurchJ Said the depunv.in wished to point out the .unfair way in which the State depots ' were, competing against ithe merchant 'n Ch'riii■cloiUroh. For instance, coal dealers not allowed to buy coal from a depot at any pric%, though it belxiged co them just as much as it did ly c'htr • people. The Minister of Mines iiacl . oaid that there was no intention on. the par. of the Government to create a •monopoly/ He could assure the Gov i eminent thait -there ws no monopoly : amongst dealers. Any one who could .-. purchase a horse and cart could start '.as a coal dealer. In Christchurch a merchant had sent an order with the ituoney to a State depot for a ton. of State coal to be sent to a private house i bi_' the money was returned and the coat, was not delivered. If that was not itryiinglto create Mnj&nopbly he dia not know what was.. In the second place th« deputation wished <to point that the people who were supported ; to be benefiited with State coal were '.no: receiving- benefit at all'; only those ! who could afford ( "to pay cash. The dealers' experience was that .the- major •it/ of people required credit, particularly .the working man, who was often .idle in the winter tirave, and^ perhaps had sickness, in his house. They were I compelled to deal with the merchants because the State would not give them credit. He also wanted: to know why the people of Wellington and Christchurch (where depots are established) should have the .behefiit of the sale of coal at the expense of the rest of the peo tie of the colony. Liniments cannot remove the real trouble in rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and lumbago.' Rheumo does, by re!movin r " the excess uric acid from" the blood. Rheumo effects a' thorough cure. 2s 6d and 4s 6d. .. Rheumo cutes rheumatism, gout/ : sciatica, ja*nd Jumbago quickly and permanently. It. is a. thoroughly safe and absolutely reliable remedy. All rhemists an) stores, 2s 6d and 4s 6*