IMPORTATION OF WELSH COAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 1 November 1921, Page 5

IMPORTATION OF WELSH COAL

WHY IT WAS NECESSARY

(United Frees Association.;

WELLINGTON, This Day

Speaking about the price and importation of Welsh coal the Hon. D. H. Guthrie (acting Minister of Railways) said : "In tho first place the importing of Welsh coal wa.? the last, alternative (he department had, The necessity for importation will be •::■ : -- apparent when .1 say that the annual requirements of the 'Railwav Department tire' not less rhan 300,000 tons, whilst the \largest amount received in any one year since 1914 by the Department from .New Zealand' mines was 182,000 ions, and in 1920 I he. amount had fallen U< beloV 50.000 lons, if was quite impossible for the Government io keep the'-rail-ways running, and consequently the. industries of the country going, on New Zealand coal under the conditions which find to he contended with. During the last three years the. Government lias had coal from America at £6 6s a ton landed in New Zealand ; from Japan at £6 17s 3d; South Africa £4 12s 6d; Australia til IP? 4.1. The latter was vqyv difficult io obtain. Welsh coal was. offered the Government at £4 8s 6rl a ton. afterwards reduced to £4 5s <r.i.f. .Freight was approximately £1 10s, reducing it to £2 15s. The calorific value'of Welsh coal is supposed to be from twenty-five to (hirtv per ceni. higher than Australian coal, so that on this basis trie cost of Welsh coal was approximately £2 a. lon laking the cost, less freight, and calorific value into consideration. The Government has still between 60,000 and 70,000 tons of Welsh coal to arrive before the end of the present contract is reached."