THE RAILWAY INQUIRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12761, 3 October 1919, Page 8

THE RAILWAY INQUIRY.

THE COAL SHORTAGE.

SHIPPING FACILITIES.

[Per Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, October 3. Mr James Findlay, N\> Vt - Zealand manager of the Shaw Savill and Albion bin piling Company, examined to-day at the sitting of tlie Railway Commission, said that coal by the steamer was refused in February, 1917, the pneo being 2U a ton. About that- time the company had two boats iiandy which might bare carried about 460G tons each, but in view ol the previous rejection they were not offered. Ho produced correspondence showing that an offer by bis company in May, 1917. to bring over coal in June ox that year was refused by the Railway Department. There had been a coal shortage before 1917, and lie did not think there was any big rush on homo liners in those days to bring over coal. Probably steamers could have been obtained for the carriage of coal before then, but he could not say at what price. It was likely that in 1916 it wyniki cost 3os a ton to get a vessel to carry coal to New Zealand from Newcastle on time charter. He had recommended that the charge for coal from Newport News. America, should be 25s a ton. That was declared to be unprofitable and was raised to 40s, which did not result in any great profit Mr E. E Gillon. chief railway mechanical engineer, giving evidence, said he would rather have a ton of Newcastle coal tlian a ton of Westport. The latter bad to undergo severe handling before it reached railway locomotion, but there was no such disability in connection with coal from Newcastle. Coal from the Newcastle mines was of a harder description. The Commission leaves for Christchurch to-night.