SOUTH WALES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 December 1936, Page 3

SOUTH WALES

PLIGHT OF INDUSTRY REVIVAL OF COAL EXPORT TRADE ESSENTIAL (British Official Wireless) RUGBY. 16th December. The South Wales Trade Recovery and Expansion Committee, of which Sir Robert Horne is chairman, has issued a memorandum, a copy of which has been sent to the Prime Minister, stating that no satisfactory solution ot the South Wales problem is possible until steps to revive the export of coal are undertaken. The memorandum continues: ‘‘United Kingdom coal shipments as cargo to foreign destinations in 1935 were 15,373,500 tons, or 28.4 per cent, below the average shipments for the four years 1927 to 1930. The loss to South Wales was 7,369,000 tons, or 48 pel cent. Shipments from South Wales for the current year to the end of September show a further loss of 2,094.000 tons. The decline in the export coal trade is to a considerable extent attributable to the effects of subsidised foreign competition, particularly by Germany and Russia, and also to barter arrangements and blocked credit transactions. The industry is helpless in such circumstances and the loss of further markets is .inevitable unless Government action is taken.” The memorandum proposes the formation of a European Coal Cartel which, it states, can be brought about only by the Government indicating its intentions of taking all possible steps to regain for Great Britain its fair share of this trade and oy placing in the hands of the industry a weapon in the form of a subsidy through which this object can be attained. The committee, it is added, is actively engaged upon proposals for the resuscitation of existing industries and for the attraction of new industries to the area.