N.Z. COAL POLICY

Grey River Argus, 16 August 1934, Page 5

N.Z. COAL POLICY

TRADE REVIVAL Mr Webb’s Advocacy (Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, August 15. Answers ito questions were circulated in the House to-day. Mr P. C. Webb (Buller) on behalf of himself and Mr O’Brien (Westland), asked th e Minister of Mines, whether he would have an enquiry made into the report in the Greymouth and Christchurch papers to th,» effect that the State Coai Depot in Christchurch had no Liverp'-o] (State) mine coal in stock, and did not expect any for three or four days; and. at the samp time, the Liverpopol State mine had only worked two davs for the week.

Mr Webb added that the Liverpool State m'ine at Rewanui had worked very short time all the year, and if the Depots were kept >hort of this coal while the men and the mines were idle, drastic steps should be taken to ensur e a full supply of State mine coal at all depots Mr Macmillan, Minister of Mine-’, replied: Tt is a fact that. ow*ing to a combination cif circumstances, the repetition of which steps are being taken to avoid, the State Coal Depot at Christchurch was without any supply of Liverpool household coal for two days; but the report which appeared in the Greymouth and Christehureh papers that the Depot did not expect any Liverpool State mine coal for three or four days is definitely de nied. ” He said that the market for Liverpool household coal in Christehureh was extremely limited. and therefore large quantities were not stored. At the t'ime of the occurrence, however, over 1000 tons of James household coal was in stock. The Liverpool mine worked three days during the week referred to. and produced 2237 tons of coal. It was obvious that tin odd ten or twelve tons of Liverpool screened coal, which represented two days’ requirements of the Christchfirch Depot, would not have en aided the mine to work further time that week. Mr Webb asked the Minister o p ! Mines: Whether in view of th e shore time being worked at the State co 1 - lierles. he would take into consideration thp advisability oi purchasing suitable colliers’to convey State coal to its destination.

.Mr Webb r(‘marked that it is report cd that the shipping freighs on coal from Australia to most of the Domii.'ion ports are at a much lower ra + e than the freight charges ruling between the West Coast ports and other ports, thereby giving an unfair advantage to Australian coal over West Coast coals

Mr Macmillan replied: In the present depressed state of the coal market it is not considered that the acquisition (f collier - to convey State coal to the various ports of discharge would appreciably increase the time worked at the State collieries.