TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12922, 29 July 1905, Page 6

TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

(To the Editor.)

Bu-,—l have before me the New Zealand Free Lance dated July 22nd. In dn advertisement re coal is the follow.ng :— " The s.s. Rosamond is expected from Westport next Monday, '24ih inst., with a s»hipmeut of screened 3tate coal. etc. The- agent will bo prepared to deliver same from f hip's dde to consumers. Price 22s per ton net cash, charged in Harbour Board .weighbi-idgo weights, etc. This joal is reported upon for hous-^uld purposes as equal to the best screened 3oal in the colony." Another adver tisement says : " Point Elizabeth coal, screened, will be delivered at ship's ;ide at 25s per ton, etc." As your correspondent " Robert Tod,d " says 1 .lo not give what kind of coal, this will be satisfactory, 1 hope, to him. four correspondent sajfs he can .-upply 3oal at 22s per ton. If that as so then !iis plea of heavy local charges must break down, as ,the same charges will apply to good or bad coal, and the hewing rates- will be match the same, and the difference between 22s and 45.^ cannot be made up. Therefore a " little knowledge " is quite as dangerjus to " Robert Todd " as to " Pater." The writer has got prices from most of the coal dealers, including Mr Todd, whose price I got in black and J white, viz., 45s per ton, advancing iv j price for the half ton and ■quarter ton. ks their prices all practically agreed 1 am forced to the conclusion there- j is an "understanding" 'j&tween them. This is a matter that demands xhn instant and serious attention of our sitthi'g- member in Parliament, and without any further delay, secure for <his district a State coal agent, the san.e ss has hoen done in reference to State Fire Insurance. Cheap coal is f;uite as urgent as cheap insurance — in fact, more so, and it is a reflection on iEr Smith that we are not able to have the desired supply so much needed at fair rates. As- a supporter of the present Government, I call upon our member to bestir himself, and get themp.xtor fixed up.. Coal miners are coinpluining of slack times and no work. Can it be wondered' at when' the price is so prohibitory. Give the peopleolveap coal in New Zealand, which is their right, as' there is no scarcity of it, and the complaint of slack times will be a thing of the past. — I* am. etc., ■ ' - ■ , • .-•'PATQRvi'