COAL SHORTAGE

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1926, Page 4

COAL SHORTAGE

SECOND EDITION

NAVY STOCKS. AVAILABLE TO STATES, MELBOURNE, This Day. The Prince Minister (Mr Bruce) stated that from time to time recently inquiries had been received from persons and firms desirous of purchasing from the Commonwealth Government the coal which forms a portion of the Commonwealth stacks in New South Wales, the quantity of which is about 60,000 tons in the northern and 70,000 tons in the southern coalfields of that State. Mr Buce announced that the Commonwealth Government had' appointed a coal advisory board, to advise the Government with regard to procedure, and to deal with applications 'from the States on an equitable basis. The board consisted of Mr. P. E. Deane (secretary of the Prime Minister’s Department), PaymasterCommander H. M, Ramsay (Director of Naval Stores), and Victualling Commander J.. G. Fearnley (officer in charge of Federal coal supplies). “After fully investigating the matter,” said Mr Bruce, “the board has recommended to the Government that the Commonwealth stocks be made available to the States on a per capita basis, the States to allot the coal so that necessary activities may be carried’ on. Each State is to be responsible for the allotment within the State of its quota of the coal, and a condition has been imposed to the effect that the State Government concerned will undertake that the ooal is not to be disposed of to coal_ merchants or dealers, but is made available solely for the maintenance of public activities and industrial enterprises within the State. If it be found that some of the States do not require any of the Qommonwealth stocks, the quota - now to those States will be allocated on a per capita basis to the remaianing States.'^

i It -was explained by Mr Bruce that the coal was imported for the navy in 1917, but had depreciated, andl was now of no value for naval purposes.