THE COAL VEND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11089, 2 October 1907, Page 5

THE COAL VEND.

TERMS OF THE 'AGREEMENT

(Press Assn. — By Telegraph — Copyright). SYDNEY, October 1. Further evidence of- the existence of the coal combine is forthcoming f in the shape of a draft agreement between the Northern colliery proprietors and the shipping companies. The document stipulates that the yendors flgree to sell to purchasing agents tho whole of the coal which may be required by them to supply the trade m Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, and Queensland ; that such- coal shall be from collieries mentioned m the schedule; the price of the coal to be settled/; m the month, of November m each year. The vital .clause is 'clause 5, which readls as follows : -—"The companies, agree not to supply any coal for consumption m any of Stated • mentioned except to the said purchasing (agents or their nominees." : Under clause. 6 the purchasing agents agree to buy from the vendors the whole of the coal they require for inter-State trade. ' Another significant clause states that pun-chasing agents are to have discretion to increase the price 'by not exceeding 3s per torn The agreement was to have •coone into force from January Ist, 1907. (Received October 2,^ 8.46 a.m.) MEI^OURNEIi- October 2. In y reply to enquiries whether tlie Government intended to tdke, action m regard to the coal vend, Atr Deakin said a Bill would be introduced into; the Seriate to-day to amend the Anti-Trust Bill, giVr ing tlie Government further powers of dealing with combines and trusts.

Captain Holm, of the Maoriland Steamship Company's steamer Ennerdale,* which was refused coal by. the Newcastle "vend," was -"interviewed by a New Zealand Times reporter oh Monday on the arrival of the steamer' from Port Stephens. Captain , Holm expressed his indignation at the treatment meted out to him by the Newcastle coal "ring." He said that his vessel a,rriyed at " Sydney on September 6th with a, cargo of Ne\v Zealand timber. Shortly after arrival the usual steps were taken >to secure a, return cargo of coal/ bjtf to Captain Holm's surprise- he. was ■reiveked a- cargo unless the vessel was chartered by the Union Company, as the company had contracted with the "vend" for the carriage of all coal to New Zealand. All the sailing vessels at present trading between the •New Zealand timber ports and Australia would continue to be supplied by the "vend," but no riew-comers would get cargoes*, although. ; the 'loss of any of. the present sailing fleet! could' be made good by a substitute. ■'' Captain Holm said that the "vend" had been formed about the end of Ajp-j fil, and included all but one or' tyfo mines which could not supjplyrtheir 'demands. Captain Holm complains ; that whilst a j New Zealand-dnwed steamer is refused coal a NorwegianV st^wrier^^trading between Australia and Ne>v Zealand, which happens to be under charter is supplied with coal loading at Newcastle. He also understands that a German steamer is now charterefd to, carry Newcastle coal to New Zealand. ' . ■

Captain Holm says there is a good deal of public feeling against the m Australia. There seems to be very poor encouragement* for a New; Zealand firm to launch out into a shipping business if such treatment is to be dealt out by a coal "ring." It is not a paying proposition to carry timber from 'New .Zealand to Australia unless a return cargo can be obtained. The Erinerdale went to Port Stephens p,nd managed to secure a small cargo of hardwood piles for Wellington.