NIGHTCAPS COAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2883, 23 June 1909, Page 3

NIGHTCAPS COAL.

With reference to the statement published by us last week that the margin aliened merchant* fcr distributing Night- J caps coal is not so great as that which they receive on other coal, we are in- | formed that the margin— namely, 6s per to-i on small lots and 7s 6d on truck iota is exactly the same in each case. It ( is stated "that the I\igaitcaps coal is sold to those in the tva-de at 19= a ton for email ( lots ex- truck. Bsg-2d and screened, which i»-ans the saving of Is, it is sold in the j yard at 20s a ton. Truck lots a.re sold at , 17s 6d a ton in the railway yards,. and thus | when the coal is retailed at^2ss a ton the profit ie as with other coals, 6s on small lots and 7s M in truck lots. This, of course, ma-kes unreasonable the suggestion thab the Ccal Merchants' Association has been adverse to the Nightcaps coal owing to the smaJler profits obtainable. It is stated that as a matter of fact this coal has never been officially considered by the association at all, and the allegation of a boycott is therefore quite unfounded. The position appears to be that there is an ample supply of coale of the same class obtainable much nearer than Nightcaps, and consequently the demand for this coel ia very light. As one merchant put it: "If the pulic want Nightcaps coal you may he very sure we'll get- it for them. It make 3no "difference "to me what coal I sell aa long as I make money out of. it." Wo are in receipt of the- following telepram from Mr Handysicte; maruaigeir of the Nightcaps Coal Company.: — "Re Nightcaps coal, your footnote is wro*g. There is a margin of 7s 6d per ton. Boycott pure and simple."

, „ s, = It has been announced ' that men below fcho rank of non-commissioned officer belonging to the Household Cavalry, who for ' some time have been designated " privates," are to revert to their ancient designation of "troopers."