SUPPLIES OF COAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27580, 23 December 1950, Page 11

SUPPLIES OF COAL

Equitable Distribution AGREEMENT REACHED IN GENEVA NZPA Special Correspondent LONDON, Dec. 21. Agreement has been reached in Geneva between the coal exporting and coal importing countries of Western and Central Europe by which it is hoped to reduce the effects of the fuel shortage and thus, overcome the hardships which some importing countries might otherwise suffer during the first three months of next year.

Eighteen countries, including Poland. Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia, were represented at the meeting organised by the British Ministry of Supply It was estimated that their total import requirements of coal and coke during the first quarter of 1951 would be 19,500,000 tons The amount available for export, as announced by Belgium, Czechoslovakia, France, the Saar, Holland, Britain and Western Germany, showed a deficit of 5.000,000 tons of coal and 1,000.000 tons of coke. By adjustments and concessions it was agreed to ensure supplies for the importing countries covering 10.500,000 tons of coal and 3,000.000 tons of coke. The agreement took into particular consideration the position of Scandinavian countries, whose low stocks and absence of local supplies would otherwise have meant the drastic curtailment of industry and transport.