ALL QUIET

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10956, 19 July 1921, Page 5

ALL QUIET

THE GOAL POSITION

MUCH INTEREST IN .COMING? COURT PROCEEDINGS. NO SHORTAGE AT PRESENT. Just now matters are quiet in the Goalrinining industry, . and hopee are ontertaintxl that a period of calm will pievail. The Miners’ Federation finished its conference in Wellington last week, but nothing has transpired from that quarter as to the immediate intentions of the representatives of the men respecting certain important points. Tfie owners have cited the other side under •the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and the first sitting its set down for August 4th,‘ at Dunedin. What will happen, meantime remains to.be seen. As far as can be gathered, there is no coal shortage in New Zealand just at present. At most railway yards of consequence large stacks of coal may be seen, and the Railway Department is reported to l>e holding very large reserve stocks. The accumulations, of course, arc credited to importations and not to ' local production. In the last few years New Zealand has im- , ported about £3.000.000 worth of coal, which is a great deal -more than was exported. The position is being watched with interest on all sides, and all eyoe will be turned toward Dunedin when the case begins there next month.

It has been suggested that the regulations. requiring lignite to be supolied to consumers in equal proportions with hard coal for domestic use will he suspended. The shocks of hard coal have accumulated, and the trade *ss now in a much better position regarding supplies than it has been for -% long period. The suspension of the regulations, it is pointed out, will be a big blow to the lignite industry. The prices for lignite show little difference from those for hard coal. Some classes of lignite may now be forced off the market, and a drop in priced is cont sidered likely.