"CHALLENGE"

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16705, 24 July 1928, Page 2

"CHALLENGE"

TO AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY ©OAL FROM HOME SYDNF.Y, July 6. Mr. C M. McDonald, chairman of the Northern Collieries' Association, seemed incensed to-day when asked his views on the action "of the S.A. Government, in ordering 8000 tons of coal from Northumberland. The Premier of South Australia, Mr. Butler, was reported to have explained that the price for the coal, on trucks. Port Adelaide, worked out at about 35s 6d' a .toft, compared with 42s 6d a ton now being paid for. Newcastle coal. The purchase of British coal would not only save the State interest on nearly £2,000,000 of borrowed money, but by keeping down the cost of transport would stimulate trade generally and thus lessen unemployment. "The announcement that the South Australian Government intends to purchase the low-cost and Government subsidised product of the Northumberland mines, as against that of the Newcastle and Maitlnnd fields," said Mr. McDonald, "is a definite challenge to Australian industry, and to the welfare of the people of New South Wales in general, and of the coal-mining centres in particular. "I have already invited Mr. Bntler to co-operate with other Australian politiciaufc concerned in an effort to solve the grave problem of our diminishing coal market.

"If as the result of his deliberations, Mr. P.utleT can think only of the purchase of coal which is produced below the Australian industrial standard, then 1 despair of any assistance .from his quarter."'' ,