IMPORTED COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 9

IMPORTED COAL

DECREASE IN TEN YEARS "NO FEAR OF COMPETITION" RAILWAYS AND GAS Tlio marked decrease during the past 10 years in the importation of Australian coal was stressed by Mr. M. J. Turnbull, of Christchurch, in an interview. This decrease had been so great, ho said, that the Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, need feel no concern about competition from this quarter with New Zealand coal. Quoting from the New Zealand Year Book, Mr. Turnbull pointed out that the total imports of coal into New Zealand in 1933 were 98,355 tons, against 455,793 tons 10 years before. In 193.3, New Zealand produced 2,060,315 tons. Any suggestion that merchants were importing abnormal amounts at present, to be holding heavy stocks when the tax Avas imposed, was quite incorrect. At this time of the year their stocks were always larger than the average, they said. Further, there was no certainty that the tax would be imposed. The last big shipment of Australian coal to Canterbury was 2500 tons, which arrived a month ago. "The Minister said that he had circularised the companies using Australian coal," said Mr. Turnbull. "There are only two big consumers in New Zealand, and they are the Auckland and Wellington gas companies. In fact, the Wellington company is using mixed coal now." Mr. Turnbull was of opinion j that it would cost many thousands of : pounds to burn New Zealand swelling j coal in vertical gas retorts, because j the retorts would need frequent reI lining. It was true, however, that mixed ! coal could be used. "The railways have j taken no Australian coal for many i ; years now, so they are using New ZeaS land coal," Mr. Turnbull added. BARLEY FOR MALTING I IMPORTS AND PRICES REQUESTS TO MINISTER [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A request that steps should be taken to ensure that all imported malting barley should remain in bond until the local crop has been purchased was made bj' Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opposition— Central Otago) in the House of Representatives to-day. Mr. Bodkin gave notice to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W. Lee Martin, whether it was a fact that permits had been issued authorising the importation of a large quantity of malting barley. If so, would the Minister state the quantity authorised and indicate to whom permits had been granted. Mr. Bodkin " further asked whether the Minister was aware that brewers and others were endeavouring to get the New Zealand barley at a price below the cost of production, and that the competition of the imported barley was forcing the price down to an unreasonably low level. The Minister was •requested to take steps to have the local barley graded for malting purposes by officers of his department. THE CITY MARKETS FRUIT SALES SLOW VEGETABLE SUPPLIES There was little inquiry for fruit at the City Markets yesterday. Values for pears were lower, while tomatoes also eased slightly in price. Tree tomatoes met with practically no demand. Hothouse grapes, passion fruit and cape gooseberries sold fairly freely. Fair quantities of oranges and quinces were sold and higher values were realised for a few fancy lines. Heavy supplies of cauliflower were available and prices were slightly reduced. Cabbages, beans and green peas were all plentiful at slightly lower rates, while kumaras also sold freely. There was almost a glut of celery and prices dropped considerably on. those of the previous week. Carrots sold well. The weather lately has been too warm for sprouts, which were reduced in price. A keen demand existed for poultry and supplies were medium. Values for most lines required for table purposes showed a sharp rise. Values were:— FRUIT Apples, Cox's Orange, 5s to 9s a case; Delicious, 2s Cd to 4s fid: Bnllarat, 3s to ss; Granny Smith 39 fid to 5s Gd; Munro, 3s to 4s; Winesnp, 4s: windfalls and others, Is fid to 2b; pears. 5s fid to 7s; Keif Tors, 2« fid to 3s Gd; Peter Bftrry. 4s; W. Coles, Gs to 7s Gd: tomatoes, outdoor, extra choi-e local, 8s to 9s; others. 4s to 7s: Hutt, 5s to Gs Gd; tree tomatoes, 2a Gd to 4s; orancres, Californian, 30s; .Tamnican, , 21s to 30s: CooU Islands. 14s to 15s; srapafruit, Californian, 30s; lemons, choice, cured, 0s to 12s; others, 4s to'Bs; mandarins, Fiji, 17s to 19s: bananas, ripe, 16s to 225: grapes, To Kauwhata, fin fid to Ss; hothouse, Coleman, extra choice. Is 4d to Is fid a lb.; Coleman, othe/s, 9d to Is 4d: cape gooseberries. 4id to Gd: passion fruit, 3s to 4s fid a crnto: fie Is fid to 3s: quinces, 9s to lis per bushel. FIELD PRODUCE Beet, 4d to Sd a dozen; celery, cooking, 3d to (id a bundle: dessert, 9d to Is 9d; carrots. 8d to la 3d a dozen; cauliflowers, 5s to Gs a sack; cabbages, '!s to 8s; on benches, 2s to 4h a dozen; cucumbers. Is to 2s Gd: French beans, 2s to 4s a bag; stringless, 4s to 7s; green pens. 4s to Ss; kumaras, 4s to 7s Gd; leeks. Id to 2d a bundle; lettuce, Is to 3s Gd a case: marrows. Is to Is fid a dozen; melons. Citrons, 2d to 7d each; onions, 2s to 3n 3d a bag; potatoes, Ohakune, Buttons Supreme, 5s 3d to Gs 3d; other varieties, 4s to ss: L'ukekohe, autumn grown, 3s Gd to 4s 9d; Southern. 9s to 9s Gd a cwt.; pumpkins. Bed Warren, 2s to 4s: CroWn. 5h to Ss Gd ; parnsips, Gd to lOd a dozen; radish, 3d; rhubarb. Is Gd to 2s Gd a bundle: spinach .(id to 9d; spring onions. Is a bundle; swedes, 2s to Qs Gd a bag; turnips, 3d to Gd a bundle. POULTRY Cockerels, heavy breeds, prime, 3s to 5s eoch; heavy breeds, not prinio, Is Gd up; light, prime, 2s to 3s (id j- light, not prime, Is up; fnt roosters, heavy breeds, prime, 2s to 3s; light, Is fid to 2s; fat liens, heavy breeds, 2s Gd to 3s Gd; light. Is 9d to 2s Gd; pullets, heavy breeds, best, 3s Gd to 5s fid; smallet. Is Gd up; light, best, 3s Gd to 5s Gd: smaller. Is Gd up; drakes, young, prime, 2s to 3s; smaller, Is up: old, Is fid to 2s Gd; ducks, young, '2s Gd to 3» Gd; old, Is Gd to 2s Gd BUTTER AND EGGS Eggs, hen A grade, 2s 4Jd a dozen; B, Js Hid; C, Is 7}d: duck, A grade,' 2s 2Jd a dozen; B, 2s Old; C. Is 7id; butter, farmers', 101 d to lljd a pound. BRADFORD TOPS MARKET STILL FIRM LONDON", April 20 The Bradford tops market is firm, but there is little new business. Consumption is well maintained, however. WAIKATO COUNTY RATES [from odr own* correspondent] HAMILTON, Tuesday .Rates totalling £34,937 were struck by the Waikato County Council for tiio year ended March 31, 1936, and of this amount, £27,841, or 79.6 per cent, has. been collected. For the year ended March 31, 1935, 75.6 per cent of tho rates were collected.