LOCAL COAL SUPPLY

Grey River Argus, 12 November 1920, Page 3

LOCAL COAL SUPPLY

GENERAL OR UNSCREENED. . .

SHORTAGE OF SCREENED 1 COAL IN GREYMOUTH.

The State Mines officials have taken great exception to the complaint of the Coal dealers, which appeared in yesterday morning's "Argus". One of the rang up this office yesterday, and stated that one. .-of the coal merchants rang up the State Mines Office, asking that a deputation from the coal merchants meet the State mine manager. He was informed that the manager was absent and would not be back till next Tuesday. He then asked to * sec the Mine Manager. . The Mine Manager | informed him Hint he was Mine Manager only,, and had nothing to do with the distribution of the coal; and that the coal merchants had better wait till Mr. Parsonage returned. The Chief Clerk Ihcn got on the wire and spoke to the coal merchant; informing him that he could be supplied with unsercened he could be suplicd with unscreened coal. Because, on account of the mine not working, screened coal was not available. To this, he replied that the customers would not take unscreened coal. In reply, he was info micd that the mine workmen were ! supplied with unscreened coal, and the most of the towns in New Zealand ! were also supplied with unscreened coal, and that the coal merchants would bo supplied with screened coal on the following Thursday, when the mine was working. An attempt was then made to arrange a deputation from the coal merchants to wait on the Chief Clerk but the Chief Clerk rtaid it would be better to wait till the General Manager came back. "With regard to the statement that the wharf was congested with coal," says our informant, "there was only 100 tons of S.tate coal on the wharf yesterday, and the balance of the shipments for the Alexander, and the Waiinea had to foe made up with Blackball coal."

All roads will lead to Granity next Friday scad Saturday when the long looked for monster Band Contest will eventuate there. The" best band talent on the Coast will be there. Bands from all over Bulier and from this district are competing in the tes^ selection, the march, the solos, and tho quartettes. The latter take place onf Friday night next. Next day the quick step comes off in the afternoon 1 and will take place in "Watson's Paddock along with the stepdancing. The test piece is in the evening. Excellent train arrangements JPora visitors have been made, and the contest holds out every promise of proving a huge success.

The pure bred Clydesdale stallion, Fyvie Jacksoa , which has been imported by Mi 1 . F. C. Marshall of Lower Kokatahi, at considerable expense, is standing the season at Lower Kokatahi. Fyvie Jackson is too expensive a,, stallion to keep for^ long ,on the Coast and those who wish to improve the breed of their Clydesdales had better get ra touch with Mr. Marshall right away. For full particulars see advt.

After an absence of some few months His Worship the Mayor (Mr. J. D. Lynch) resumed his seat in the Mayoral Chair at last night's meeting of the Borough Council. He expressed his thanks to Councillors for the leave granted him, and sta-ted that although he. might have Neglected local matters he had been doing bigger things away, and he could confidently state that his. "big stunt" would be for the benefit of Greymouth. His Worship eulogised and thanked the Councillors and especially the Deputy-Mayor, the Town Clerk and the Borough Staff for the manner in; which they had carried out their duties during his absence. He was glad^to he back again in\ Greymouth and assist in helping them along for the advancement of the town. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr. W. H. Parfitt), in extending a welcome back to the Mayor, said he thanked him for the kind reference made, and could only add that if the Borough duties, had been satisfactorily carried out, it was duo to the co-operation of the Council and its staff. He wa s glad to know that the Mayor was improved i>n health and trusted this would remain) unimproved.

Mr P. Snowden, the British Labourite, -writes:— The petrol-consuming vehicle 15 years ago was almost exclusively the -rich man's property for the rich man's enjoyment. Things are ver y different to-day. A rise in the price of petrol affects the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of workmen and the cost of living of practically the whole population. The announcement of an increase of 7d per gallon on petrol is now a matter of serious public imoprtanee. The petrol trade is one of the greatest and most powerful international commercial combines, exercising enormous political, as well. as financial, influence. The Shell Transport and Trading Company pays a dividend of 35 per cent., and its subsreibcd capital of £16^00,000 has a present market value of about- £170,000,000. Three times within the last few years additional to the payment of this huge bonus shares have been distributed in, dividend. This is t he company which, through the domination of the world's, oil supplies ,is now adding to the price of this essential commodity a sum which, druing the next four months,, will give it an extra gross revenue of more than > £2,0001,000." Bonar Law says ' ' its all Tight now •in Mesopotamia. " He must feel suTe of the oil there.