THE COAL SUPPLY

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 24 December 1913, Page 5

THE COAL SUPPLY

PLENTY AVIILABLE

150,000 TONS IN SIGHT

BT TJtLBORAPH—PBESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Dec. 24. _Mr W. G. Foster, chairman of the Employers' Farmers and Citizens' Defence Committee, was asked if he was prepared to say anything on the question of coal supplies. In giving a personal opinion, Mr Foster said that he did not think the committee should make public the price that had been paid for coal coming from various places overseas. The dealers in Wellington had not at first readily taken the matter up, although they, were now in some cases seeking coal. There was a possibility that those who had paid a .long price for imported coal might be undersold by other dealers, when the New Zealand mines were reopened. '*S° far as supplies are Iconcerned," Mr Poster continued, "we do not need to worry for same considerable time to come. Commitments have now been made for 100,000 tons, and, any amount more is available if required. I think that I am right in estimating the amount of coal being delivered, on the way, and ordered as totalling 150,000 tons, every bit of which will provide for all possible require'merits up to the middle of March, so that? if the miners show no inclination to work during the next month there A will be ample time for us to repeat our orders and purchase further quantities, and to have them delivered here in good.time. At the end of January we should still; have- six weeks to order and have delivery made. Cargoes Have been offering freely to * probably a similar extent, viz.,' 150,000 tons, but the committee thought it desirable to await developments at the New Zealand mines before placing any further orders." ' ■■~'.