SHORT-WEIGHT COAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 20 November 1924, Page 7

SHORT-WEIGHT COAL.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. A LOCAL COMPLAINT. During his stay in Tiinaru yesterday the Minister of Alines (Hon. J. G. An lerson) was met by a deputation of local coal merchants, consisting or Ales'-rs P. Campbell, J. F. Butler, and A Craig, in reference to the weight ot coa! misdelivery at Tiinaru, and also flic freight rates on coal. Air Campbell sa 'd that during the war the Government had brought in regulations allowing coal owncis to talm mine weights, and 1 if a truck was loaded with six tons that weight was charged (or. It so happened, however, that trucks were often received containing onlv ot tons. The Government freight was based an six lons, ami they had" to pay for that weight whether received or not. Short weight occurred frequently during the war, and short weight lots still arrived, the Alataura mines being the worst oflcnders. The Minister said there was no Government order requiring them to take mine weights. [f six tons were purchased they were entitled to get six tons, and tailing that there was a legal remedy. Personally he did not think the mine-owners were to blame. The tricks were watched very carefully, rml checked bv means of check-weight s. Air Campbell pointed out that the Railway Department had to be paid for six tons whether iliov got that quantity or not. Tiie Afinbter pointed out that there was a minimum weight of six tons ml the railway, but agreed lo make representation to the Almister of Railways on (he mailer. 'l’he question of short wei'd'i '->al u at nr-moit being investigate- 1 b.- iW- ' '••’out.