HIGH PRICE OF COAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6273, 2 September 1898, Page 1

HIGH PRICE OF COAL.

In'tli9 House this afternoon some rather important statements were made on the subject of the price, of coal, in the colony. A question was asked by ;Mr O'Regan as to whether the Government would agree to the ratting up of a Select Committee of both Houses to inquire into the high prices charged tor: coal, with a view to haying that commodity provided at more reasonable rates. The meniber for Buller pointed out that the retail price of coal at Greymouth was 19s per ton, and yet the same coal was sold at 38s per ton in Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin, while in some .country places as high a price as 44s a ton was charged. The freight-to' Wellington from Westport—he had not'ihe figures for Greymouth—was only 6s 6d a ton, and this left a very large margin for profit and expenses. The mountains of the West Coast beins literally filled with millions of tons of coal, it seenu-d extraordinary that such extortionate prices as.he.had~ quoted should be wrung from the people of the colony. Such a state of things Avas detrimental to the interests of producers as well as consumers of coal. The existence of something like a coal" ring " in Wellington seemed to be proved by the fact that when the of the vessel Coromandel, a few days ago, offered the cargo of coal at 17s per ton, he could get -no offer for it. The Premier, in reply, said that the Government was at present paying 19s per ton for the best steam coal for the railways in Wellington, whereas, he believed, the Public Works Department paid 28s per ton for coal for ordinary use. It was not easy to understand how such discrepancies in the price Tose. He believed that one means of bringing down the price would be to have coal-mines worked by the State, with a view to supplying people with coal (Hear hear). It seemed probable that there was at present a combination to keep up the price of coal in various parts of the colony. By comparing places like Wanganui, where there was no competition, with towns where competition existed, it would be seen that the difference in price was enormous. As the coal lands of the colony were the property of the State, he contended that it would be reasonable, and in accordance wiih principles of equity, for the State, in granting leases of such lands to insert a clause regulating the prices that should to charged! for coal. Mr O'Regan pointed out (the Premier having resumed his seat) that- no reply had been given to his question, which had reference to setting up a committee. . The Premier said that he saw no ob jection to setting up a Select Committee to; inquire into the subjtct, as good results might follow such inquiry. He would consult members, and if he found that there was a general wish he -would move for the setting up of a committee.