HIGH COAL PRICES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 10

HIGH COAL PRICES

BOARD’S IMPORTS PROVINCE HANDICAPPED Special to THE SUN HAMILTON, Today. Strong comment on the difficulties in the way of the Auckland ElectricPower Board procuring sufficient coal supplies in New Zealand to keep the plant at King’s Wharf going was made ■ at the conference of power boards yes- i terday. Delegates described the position as “absurd and ridiculous.” Mr- W. J. Holdsworth. chairman of the Auckland Board, pointed out that while the board was straining every nerve to help primary producers during the period of shortage, it wae being hampered by a shortage of coal at a competitive price. It was a “crying shame” that, while there were men out of work and there was coal in the country, the board should have to send large sums overseas for supplies. The whole province was being handicapped. When the board wanted local coal at the beginning of the emergency, the price was increased by 40 per cent, and no guarantee of supply could be obtained. The board would want 4.000 tons a week with its new- plant Tho Government should see that consumers were not saddled with qndue expense and should ensure coal supplies being available at reasonable rates. Already the board has had to spend £1.600 on imports from overseas. Mr. G. Trevithick, chairman of the Waitemata Board, described the position as "absurd and ridiculous.” The question was largely an economic one in which commercial interests were involved. The Auckland Board should be able to secure what supplies of coal it wanted in the country in a time of national emergency. “That we should have to go outside New- Zealand for coal in an emergency i this I think is a crime,” said Mr J. R. Fow (Hamilton). It was the | duty of the conference to help tho ; Auckland Board. j A resolution was adopted unanimously drawing the attention of the Government to the fact that the Auckland Power Board was unable to procure sufficient quantities of New Zealand coal and had to import supplies.