AUSTRALIAN COAL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2126, 7 December 1920, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN COAL.

THE BILOELA'S CONSIGNMENT. EIVAL CLAIMANTS. The claims of the threshing industry to receive the whole of the consignment of Australian coal, now on its w r ay to Lyttelton, in the Biloela, ore being disputed. Strong representations are being made that a portion bo set aside for urgent essential requirements, including the gas supply of the eit3% The necessity for this reservation of a portion of tho coal is that the Dominion output will bo disturbed in a week or so, owing te the practice of shutting clown tho mines over the Christmas and New Year holidays. The Christehurch Gas Co., litd., claims that a portion of the Australian coal is necessary, in order to tide over that period. Mr E. C. Bishop, general manager of the company, informed a Sun representative that he had made representations in the matter to the Coal Control Board,' and the Minister of Munitions. The company, in view of the possibility of the quantities from the Dominion mines being insufficient, endeavoured to obtain a shipload from Australia. It was under tho impression that the coal would be brought here in the Biloela, and received cable advice to that effect. Then came word that this vessel's consignment had been practically commandeered for the threshing industry. He did not dispute the claims of the threshing industry to be supplied, but considered that, under the circumstances, the claims of industries depending on gas fuel should also receive consideration. As far as the eompany was concerned, it was simply a question of receiving a sufficient quantity over the period affected by the vacation at the mines until such time as

the State and other mines could come to its assistance. In a statement of the general position, Mr Denys Hoaro, secretary of the Christehurch Coal Trade Committee, said that a considerable quantity of tho Biloela's consignment would be set aside for threshing. If any coal was used for other purposes, it would be for the most urgent essentials. The Canopus was unloading about 1600 tons, which would bo used almost entirely by industries. This was the last trip of tho Canopus before Christmas, for he understood that the vessel would soon be undergoing its annual overhaul. The Kaliika would bring a small consignment from the West Coast before Christmas. There was also a possibility of the Poherua bringing, coal from the West Coast, but the dates had not yet been arranged.