Britain's Declining Coal Trade; Shipowners Alarmed

Northern Advocate, 27 July 1938, Page 7

Britain's Declining Coal Trade; Shipowners Alarmed

(Received noon.) RUGBY, July 26. IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE VOTE FOR THE MINES DEPARTMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR MINES, CAPTAIN H. F. C. CROOKSHANK, SAID THAT DURING THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THE PRESENT YEAR THE OUTPUT OF COAL WAS INCREASED ONLY IN THE DURHAM AND SOUTH WALES COALFIELDS; THE DECREASE OVER THE WHOLE OF THE COALFIELDS HAD BEEN IN THE REGION OF 3,500,000 TONS. Exports of coal shipped as cargo had dropped in six months by 1,000,000 tons, being 17,500,000 tons as against 18,500,000 tons in the same period of last year. There was a drep of about 1.000,000 tons in exports to France, but, on the other hand, there were increases in exports to . Italy and Germany and Spain.

Employment on the average was considerably higher in the six months, being up by 17,500, and, on the average, earnings per shift were 11/-, which was kid higher than the average for the whole of 1937. Captain Crookshank announced that the Government, recognising the difficulties of the coal export trade, was determined to stand by the industry. It was considering a proposal of a levy on coal sold in Britain to assist sales abroad, adds a cable message. Shipowners Anxious. Shipowners have issued a manifesto expressing alarm at the decline in the use of British coal. “The total displacement of coal in the Navy and in the mercantile marine,” they said, “has made our freedom of movement on the high seas dependent on the goodwill of the exporters of oil. It has also largely reduced tramp tonnage, and increased transport costs for British manufacturers.” So-called political remedies merely resulted in an increased cost of bunker coal. Many shipowners had been forced to import from the Continent, while enormous sums had been sent overseas to buy oil. It would not be of such importance were Britain able to export more of her manufactures, but rising costs threatened to reduce foreign trade to a minimum. The adverse trade balance was rising yearly.