PRODUCTION OF COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23101, 28 July 1938, Page 13

PRODUCTION OF COAL

DECREASE IN BRITAIN FIGURES FOR SIX MONTHS British Wireless RUGBY, July 26 Speaking in the House of Commons on the vote for the Mines Department, the Secretary for Mines, Captain H. F. Crookshank, said that during the first six months of the present year the output of coal was increased only in the Durham and South Wales coalfields —the decrease over the whole of the coalfields had been in the region of 3.000.000 tons.

Exports of coal shipped as cargo had dropped in six months by 1.000.000 tons, being 17,500.000 tons as against 18.-500,000 tons in. the same period of last year. There was a drop of about 1.000.000 tons in exports to France, 'but on the other hand there were increases in exports to Italy. Germany and Spain. Employment on the average was considerably higher in the six months, being up by 17.500, and on the average, earnings per shift were lis. which wag 5Jd higher than the average for th» whole of 1937.

SHIPOWNERS' CONCERN PLIGHT OF INDUSTRY LESS FOREIGN TRADE LONDON, July 23 Shipowners have issued a manifesto expressing alarm at the decline in the use of British coal. "The total displacement of coal in the Navy and half the mercantile marine," they say, "has made our freedom of movement on the high seas dependent on the goodwill of the exporters of oil. It has also largely reduced tramp tonnage and increased transport costs for British ' manufactures.-' So-called political remedies had merely resulted in an increased cost of bunker coal. Many shipowners had been forced to import from the Continent, while enormous sums had been sent overseas to buy oil. It would not be of such importance were Britain able to export more of her manufactures, but the rising costs threatened to reduce foreign trade to a minimum. The adverse trade balance was rising every year. The Parliamentary Secretary of Mines, Captain H. F. Crookshank, announced that the Government, recognising the difficulties of the coal export trade, was determined to stand by Jibe industry. It was considering a proposal tor a levy on coal sulci in Britain to assist sales abroad.