THE COAL VEND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, 2 October 1907, Page 2

THE COAL VEND.

I ■ I COLLIERY OWNERS AND I SHIPPERS. [UNittr Pbess Associauck.— r-*p*r--lUCIHT.] SYDNEY, Tuesday. Further evidence of the existence of the coal combine is forthcoming in the j shape of a draft agreement between the ; Northoin Colliery proprietors and the shipping companies. The document ! stipulates that the vendors agree to sell jto purchasing agents the wbole of the | coal which may be required by them to supply the trade of Victoriaj South I Australia, Western Australia, and j Queensland, and that such coal shall be I from the collieries mentioned in tho j schedule, the price of the coal to be I settled in the month of December in each year. The vital clause is clause S, which reads as follows : — "The companies agree not to supply ahy coal for consumption in any of the States mentioned, except to tho said purchasing agents, or their nominees.' Under clause 6 tho purchasing agents agree to buy from the vendors the whole of the they require for the inter-State trade. Another significant clause states that the r-urchasing agents are to have discretion in the increase price by not exceeding 3s per ton. The agreement was supposed to have come into " force from January Ist, 1907.