BRITISH GOAL INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17212, 14 July 1919, Page 5

BRITISH GOAL INDUSTRY.

y TAUSE OP RISE IN PRICE. HEAVY WORKING DEFICIT. EXPERT'S GRAVE WARNING. Ey Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriaht. (Received 5.5 p.m.) a ' anc! * Z: LONDON. July 12. The Board of Trade, in a White * aper, explaining the increase of 6s * ton in the price of coal, states that the estimated deficiency on the working of the coal industry for a year from July 16 this year will be 146,600,000. The year's output is estimated at 217,000,000 tons less |S OOO,000 for consumption at the eol..f;nes, 6,000,000 for the use of the miner*!, 32.000 000 for bunkers and export, leaving 161,000,000 over which the deficiency will he spread. Professor W. Rons, a fuel expert, declares thai he is afraid to express his real views lest he should appear on alarmist, hut if dear coal becomes permanent. Britain's industrial supremacy is doomed, and her commerce and trade will be irretrievably injured. He believes America will offer to sell coal to Britain. He pointed out that cheap coal had been the magnet attracting to Britain raw material for the metal, cotton, and •woo! industries. The American output of coal in 1917 per worker was 770 tons, and the British 240. The former is still increasing, and the litter declining. The announcement of the increase in price has caused a great deal of excitement in Britain. A general weakness in the Stock Exchange is noticeable. It. is estimated that «toel will cost another 30s per ton. gas another 8d per 1000 ft, and paper 5 per cent. more. Motor-cars will, it is estimated, cost an average of £100 more j each. I The electricians, who threatened to extinguish the peace illuminations in London in consequence of the increase, have already discontinued mcir preparatory work. Mr. Lloyd George, in an interview, said that direct action by the trade unions was pure Bolshevism. The workers themselves would suffer most from it in the long run. The Premier intends to make an early Announcement in the House of Commons on the. matter after consulting i with the Cabinet. j